Shark Tagging Adventure 2013!

Hi everyone,

Some of you may remember our work with Brendal Davis over the past couple of years.  Brendal is dedicated to raising awareness about a very important issue: shark research!  For those of you who missed our expedition with Brendal last year, here is some info on why shark research is so important:

Due to several declining fish populations, climate change, and habitat degradation, it is important for scientists to consistently track marine species, so that they may determine spatial and temporal trends in their behaviour and movement. For sharks, tagging (i.e. acoustic, satellite, or radio) can provide scientists with the most up to date movements of these species as they cross vast ocean distances, or whether they remain close to shore. It can determine their catch location, how they were caught, and where they traveled, too! This type of information is extremely valuable for both sharks and fisheries managers. Policy makers need the best scientific information available, if they are to implement effective conservation measures for sharks.

If you are interested in joining the expedition, you may want to take a look at the shark-tagging basics we posted last year on this website.  You can read those here:

 http://indianpointyoungnaturalistclub.blogspot.ca/2012/06/hi-everyone-we-have-some-super-exciting.html

We are also extremely please to be offering this incredibly opportunity free of charge this year, thanks to our friends at the Ocean Tracking Network.  However, there are very limited spaces available, so if you want to go, please contact us ASAP.  We will be signing people up on a first-come first-serve basis.

Please contact us at (902) 823-3049 or at ospreys@eastlink.ca if you are interested.


Peace, Love, and Sharks!
-The IPYNC Staff

2013 Junior Counsellors

Hey Everyone,

We are pleased to announce that 7 wonderful Junior Counsellors will be joining us this year! We will have 2 Jr. Counsellors at each of the younger kids' camps as well as a special events counsellor to help us out on busy days with lots of activities.

Camp 1: Kyra Kenney & Clare Henderson

Camp 2: Sophie Williams & Alex Mahtab

Camp 3: Kate Yeadon & Mariam Williams

Special Events Counsellor: Jarrett MacLeod

Peace, Love, and Jellies!
-The IPYNC Staff

Introducing the 2013 Staff!

Hello everybody!

We are very excited to announce the staff for the 2013 IPNYC Summer Camps.  :)

First of all, camp founder and director, Scott Pelton would like to welcome all new and returning campers to the camps this year! For those of you who have recently discovered our camps or our website, here is a brief summary of how The Indian Point Young Naturalist Club began. Way back in 2003 Scott had 2 children in the very first half-day summer camp. Since then, over 200 children have experienced more than 20 weeks of magic right here on the shores of St. Margaret’s Bay.  We are proud to announce that this year we have over 80% of last year's young naturalists joining us.

Camp counsellor Mikaela Law will be returning for her sixth summer camp with the Indian Point Young Naturalist Club. Mikaela has just completed her first year studying biology at Mount St. Vincent University and is a lifeguard at the Canada Games Centre in Halifax.  We are so happy to have Mikaela with us again this summer; her keen interest in science, surfing, and nature and her love of children make her the perfect counsellor!

Returning for her third year as a camp counsellor is Arielle Legere. Arielle grew up exploring the shores of St. Margaret’s Bay and is super excited about being involved in the camps again this summer.  Arielle has just completed her first year at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, where she is training to be an actor.  Arielle is happy to be bringing her love of children, art, and the great outdoors to the camps again this year.

The IPYNC is also thrilled to welcome new counsellor Suzanne Hollett.  Suzanne is a dedicated mother and practices the art of living from the heart. She offers a space for people to express themselves through voice and body.  Suzanne is overjoyed to be working with the IPYNC this summer. She intends on creating a supportive space for the children to thrive and have fun. She also wishes to invite music, magic and love into the camps this year.

 

 

Peace, Love, and Jellies!

-The IPYNC Staff

Hubbard's Market with the IPYNC!

Hey everyone,

The IPYNC is pleased to be returning to the Hubbard's Barn Farmer's Market this Saturday, and we'd love to see you there!  We will be running a scavenger hunt and bringing along our touch tank full of fun ocean creatures, so you definitely don't want to miss this. 

If you have never been to the Hubbard's Market before, we highly reccommend you go and try the amazing assortment of local food, crafts, art, and music.

See you there!
-IPYNC Staff

Get a $30-$40 Amazon Gift Card!

 Hello Everyone!

One of our Young Naturalist's mothers is a computer scientist for Microsoft. Her group is currently recruiting students in grades 6-12 to take part in a study where they are asked to Skype with their friends while doing homework. If you have a kid in that age range who might be interested, please email Kori (contact below). All students who participate will receive a $30-$40 Amazon gift card! :)

Please contact Kori at kori@microsoft.com for more details on how to participate.

-IPYNC Staff

Come Celebrate with the Nova Scotia SeaSchool!

Hello Everyone!

This summer, the Young Naturalists in Camp 4 (August 12 to 16), will be spending the day at the Nova Scotia SeaSchool in Lunenburg on the schooner Dorothea.

Everyone is invited to celebrate Dorothea's re-launching on Saturday, May 11, 2013.

Here are the details:

 

Nova Scotia Sea School Spring/Summer 2013       HELP OUTFIT NOVA SCOTIA SEA SCHOOL'S BOAT 'DOROTHEA'  PURCHASE GEAR FOR YOUTH!   you can donate from $5 to $500! Our goal is to raise $4000 by Dorothea's re-launch date on Saturday May 11th on the Halifax Waterfront. You can also support this by sharing this project with your networks    Dorothea under construction       You're invited, come celebrate Dorothea's Re-Launch! Saturday May 11  12:30pm   The Nova Scotia Sea School, in partnership with the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, is inviting the public to watch and participate in the RE-LAUNCH of the Sea School's original expedition sailboat.      Join us for:   Open City activity: hands on art activities presented by The Spot from 10:00 A.M-2:00 P.M Youth directed launch of Dorothea with ceremonial blessing  12:30 P.M Summer sailing camp registration and donation booth Post ceremony reception at the Maritime Museum's boat shop and courtyard 1:00-2:00 P.M Bring your friends, family, and colleagues to see Dorothea submerge back into adventure!     Dorothea's launch in 1995 SAILING EXPEDITIONS *Summer 2013*    Youth and Adult Trip Schedule:   5-Day Voyage at Sea (ages 14-18) Session 1: July 2 - 6  7-Day Coastal Expedition (ages 14-18) Session 1: July 9 - 15 Session 2: August 12 - 18 Session 3: August 22 - 28     5- Day Adult Professional Development (ages 19+) August 15-19     INVITE THE SEA SCHOOL TO PRESENT!     Interested in learning more about the Nova Scotia Sea School youth programs? Invite us to your school, group, organization, or event for a FREE 15-20 minute presentation. We also offer a "Mast Raising Workshop" guided by Sea School program staff and our junior leaders and alumni. We've created an experiential education workshop based on teamwork, communication, and leadership skills. From this workshop the group gains: Experience of effective teamwork based on mutual support and cooperation New experiences of trusting each other and in offering trust 1-2 hours of physical activity Strategies for effective communication in silence and aloud A sense of confidence in their ability to work together and as individual leaders Learn more about the Sea Schools youth programs We're offering the workshop from May until mid-June of this year. If you are interested in having us visit or you know someone else who might be interested, please contact us at 902.423.7284 or email Sophia Hopkins at sophia@seaschool.org.      Quick Links!   Sea School Website Join Facebook Donate Now        About Nova Scotia Sea School The Nova Scotia Sea School takes advantage of the Maritime tradition of boats and the sea to help young people discover the values that the sea has taught for generations: courage, leadership, teamwork, generosity, environmental stewardship, humour, respect. We teach hands-on skills in boat-building, boat-handling, navigation and wilderness survival, and above all give youth a chance to live and work together in a challenging situation where each of them has a turn at being in command and in achieving their true potential.   2057 Gottingen St. Halifax , Nova Scotia B3K 3B2 Nova Scotia Sea School 902 423-7284

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Camp 4 Date Change to August 12-16

Attention Camp 4 Campers!

 

As most of you should have been informed by email, Camp 4 has officially been moved to the week of August 12 to 16, 2013.

Thank you all for your understanding!  
-IPYNC Staff