Tiana Bayside Facility is a marine education center on Dune Road in Hampton Bays, between Tiana Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. All programs are run by Back to the Bays, an initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Marine Program, dedicated to caring and restoring the coastal and marine environments and habitats of the East End.
Bayside Adventures · Ages 7-9 and 10-14
Bayside Adventures is a 5-day immersive science program. Students delve into the multi-disciplinary realm of marine science through hands-on, observational learning. Tiana Bayside Facility's unique proximity to both the ocean and bay beaches enables exploration of salt marshes, eelgrass meadows, mud flats, rocky shores, and dunes. Activities include seining for fish and invertebrates, identifying and collecting local species, caring for personal habitat tanks throughout the week, designing and conducting scientific experiments, bird watching, microscopic specimen viewing, and actively participating in CCE Marine's shellfish and habitat restoration.
Ages 7 to 9 run July 13-17 and ages 10 to 14 run August 24-28, both Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The program costs $715 for residents and $740 for non-residents.
ArtSea · Ages 7-9 and 10-13
ArtSea is a program that combines art and science. Art and science both require careful and keen observational skills and the marine habitats surrounding the Tiana Bayside Facility are full of visual, tactile, and scientific wonder. This weeklong session fosters personal creative expression, while immersing students in the marine environment. Led by CCE Marine Educator and Resident Artist Carolyn Munaco, students learn the techniques of painting, drawing, sculpture, and collage using the creatures and seascapes around them as inspiration. A typical day at ArtSea includes one or more art projects, accompanied by hands-on science lessons with daily outdoor habitat exploration and touch-tank time. Students collect found objects and natural specimens, observe wild animals in nature, and study the patterns in plant life and insects.
Ages 7 to 9 run July 20-24 and ages 10 to 13 run August 17-21, both Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The program costs $715 for residents and $740 for non-residents.
Seahorse Art & Science · Ages 10-14
In this specialty program, students become immersed in the world of seahorses. Each day the program focuses on different aspects of the biology, ecology and behavior of seahorses. The highlight of this program includes seining to contribute scientific data to CCE's Seahorse Conservation Initiative, by capturing, photographing, measuring and using other scientific equipment to monitor the population of seahorses in the eelgrass meadow. While searching the eelgrass for seahorses, campers discover many other species that shelter there, and have the opportunity to set up their own fish tanks for the week to learn about animal care and species ecology. To help local seahorse populations and other marine life, stewardship activities including eelgrass restoration and coastal clean ups are part of the day. Students also work on one or more seahorse inspired art projects with the guidance of local artist and Back to the Bays ArtSea Camp Director Carolyn Munaco.
Two sessions: July 27-31 and August 10-14, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. The program costs $770 for residents and $795 for non-residents.
Registration opens May 5 through the Southampton Town Parks Department. Create an account in advance at nysouthamptonweb.myvscloud.com.
