A newsletter from the Prince William Sound Science Center

August 13, 2024

Participants of the Community Coastal Experience on the Copper River Delta—photo credit Lauren Bien.

The Prince William Sound Science Center hosted the Community Coastal Experience (CCE) in June. CCE is a five-week immersive experience funded by the CORaL Network to promote equity and co-production of knowledge in the STEAM fields throughout our region. This year’s participants were adults of all ages and backgrounds who traveled to Seward, Cordova, Kodiak, and the Kachemak Bay area.

In Cordova, the participants spent a day working with PWSSC research staff. They joined Dr. Rob Campbell and Dr. Alysha Cypher for a research cruise on the New Wave, where they performed a plankton tow and dropped a multibeam imaging sonar on a kelp forest. Back at the Science Center, participants were joined by Jessica Pretty to identify plankton under the microscope and Anne Schaefer to talk about studying Aleutian terns.

CCE met with many of our partners during their time in Cordova, including the Chugach Regional Resources Commission for a cultural overview, the U.S. Forest Service to learn about dusky Canada goose monitoring, and the Copper River Watershed Program to learn about culverts and stream management. PWSSC is proud to help coordinate a hands-on, immersive week in Cordova full of education, science, and culture.

Astrid Olson

Cortez Catalano

This summer, PWSSC hosted two interns, Astrid Olsen and Cortez Catalano. They participated in snorkel surveys for fertile sugar kelp tissue, imaging sonar surveys of seaweed farms, aerial herring surveys, and wrangled children for the education department during camps and programs.

They also designed and implemented independent research projects. Astrid, who comes from Vermont and is entering her second year at Dartmouth College, examined the growth of early-life-stage sugar kelp under varying salinity levels to improve hatchery practices. From a background previously in terrestrial ecology, Astrid was excited to dive into marine sciences with her own research project and grateful for the opportunity to experience designing and conducting an experiment from scratch.

Cortez collected seaweed from the Wild Blue Mariculture Farm and a nearby wild kelp bed to compare biological communities growing on the kelp and assess habitat quality. He is entering his third year at Penn State University, majoring in ecology and minoring in marine science. He is extremely grateful for the opportunity to design and conduct a marine research project with the Prince William Sound Science Center, and he hopes to use the experience he gained here to inform his future research endeavors and pursue a career in marine science.

The interns also participated in Cordova life this summer. Astrid joined the 4H music camp, taking a week of fiddle lessons and enthusiastically participating in bluegrass square dancing. She also got in as many hikes and walks in the Cordova landscape as possible. Cortez has become an expert berry picker. He also spent his time swimming in Eyak Lake and hiking whenever possible.

Rafting down the Klutina River—photo credit PWSSC staff.

This June, the Copper River Stewardship Program included nine teens from across the watershed. The purpose of the trip was to experience the watershed’s many tributaries, forge connections with students from other regions, hear new perspectives, and see how individuals can contribute to a greater and healthier watershed.

They explored the delta to the basin via canoe, ferry, raft, and jet boat, giving the stewards a front-row seat to the diversity of the landscape. Hydropower, dusky Canada goose nest sites, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, invasive plants, and subsistence fishing were topics they explored on their journey.

One steward commented, “The [Copper River] watershed contains a beautiful variety of landscapes and terrains,” while another noted, “I learned the history of my ancestors' lands.”

When asked how the trip had changed them as people, one steward responded, “I realized how much more compatible I am with nature rather than electronics.”

 To see more details from their trip, visit their story map.

We hope you can join us this month for some educational fun! Different programs are intended for specific ages, as noted below. Younger participants need to be accompanied by a caregiver. Everyone is welcome to attend. A current calendar of events can be found on our website. Subscribe here if you'd like to receive email notifications for upcoming community education programs.

August 19 (10-11 am) Discover Cordova: Silly Salmon

Join us for a hands-on journey as we follow the life of a salmon from sea to spawn. The target age is preschool and grade school, but it is open to all who want to explore. Meet at Fleming Spit (at the outhouse before the Science Center). Please dress for the weather. Rubber boots and rain pants are recommended for full immersive exploration.

Dino Camp explorers perform a dinosaur fossil excavation—photo credit PWSSC staff.

Our educators were in the field all summer, working with eager learners of all ages.

Cordova’s sixth-grade class concluded their Discovery Room days with one final hurrah – the Sixth Grade Overnight. They were challenged to learn more about the Copper River Delta by completing a scavenger hunt. They also participated in stewardship activities such as helping with the community garden, clearing trails at Mavis Island, and collecting roadside trash. The overnight ended with one of three excursions: a day at the glacier, a rainforest hike, or exploring the wetlands.

Discover Cordova, our monthly program for preschool through elementary-aged children, spent the summer months discovering shorebirds, macroinvertebrates, and tidepool creatures. This month, we will focus on the world of salmon.

Our summer camp programs wrapped up last week. We hosted camps that explored the local ecosystems, dinosaurs, animal adaptations, and more! Campers learned, played, and explored the Copper River Delta to the ocean and everywhere in between!