1. Who are you folks?
The Ocean Institute at Sandy Hook is part of the Community Development
Office of Brookdale Community College. We are housed in Building
53 in Fort Hancock on Sandy Hook. Although all of the buildings
at Sandy Hook are owned by the National Park Service, we are not
part of the National Park Service. Back to the
FAQ listing.
2. Why is it so hard to
get ahold of you folks on the telephone?
Although we’re open most days, the only personnel that are
hired by the Institute are instructional staff; therefore, we
are only available to answer the phone when we are not working
with a class. To ensure that there are no mix ups or confusion
about your trip, we insist that all field trips be reserved by
mail. Written confirmations can only be sent from the College
after we have received a written request from you. See our scheduling
information at the end of this document. Back to
the FAQ listing.
3. Is there a good time
to call?
We are usually busy with students between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm
and can not answer the phone. So if you call, and get our voice
mail, please leave a message, if you have a question that is not
answered with the information in our brochures or web page. Our
information number is Phonemail at (732) 224-2900 x 1302.
Please remember that we schedule by
mail only!
If you’re contacting us about a trip and you call Phone Mail, please provide us with the following information: day and evening telephone number, email address, address, the program you have scheduled, the number of students and date that you are visiting. Please leave us all of this information and it will speed up the process considerably. Please remember that we schedule by mail only. If you leave any information for us on any of our voice mail lines about scheduling a trip, we appreciate the effort, however, you must follow it up with a written request. Back to the FAQ listing.
4. What if I absolutely
have to get ahold of you TODAY?
If you are calling about a program that is scheduled for today,
tonight or tomorrow, and for example, you have concerns about
the weather, the earlier in the day that you contact us and leave
a message as to when you are available on the phone, the quicker
we can get back to you during the school day. Please leave us
as many details as you can on your message, then we can pass a
response on to you via your school secretary, if you are unavailable
when we return your call. It also helps if you give us your secretary’s
name to pass on a specific message. If your questions are about
the weather and possible cancellations or changes in the program,
check first with Phonemail at (732) 224-2900 x 1302.. There
will be a daily weather update on this line. See the weather
page for ather procedures.
It is crucial that you check the weather forecast at least
36 hours before your trip and contact us at least a day before
your trip if you have any weather concerns. Call us at Phonemail
at (732) 224-2900 x 1302. Back to the FAQ
listing.
5. How do I schedule a trip?
Print out our reservation form
or request a field trip flier with a reservation coupon that you
may fill out and send to us. Most of our schools book programs
well in advance to reserve the date of their choice (Usually everyone
wants May 20th.), or fill an entire week with a grade level (Typically
the week of May 20th). Although we do occasionally get a cancellation
(Typically there is a waiting list for the last half of May...in
fact, most of May for that matter!), we cannot guarantee accommodating
you unless you register well in advance and by mail. Give us a
variety of dates. Don't request all Fridays or concentrate on
the last week of May-fisrt week of June, because these are always
the first to fill.
Important Notice! Check our calendar page and flyer for updates on our scheduling procedures for the busy spring season. You may also send a written request on school stationary. Please give us the following information:
Send requests by regular mail, in a business envelope (Not
Express, Overnight, or in an oversize envelope, etc.) to:
Brookdale's Ocean Institute, Box 533, Sandy Hook, NJ 07732. If
you have specific questions or requests, include those on a separate
sheet along with your reservation form. We can write the answers
on that sheet and return it within a few days.
Back to the FAQ listing.
6. How many students can
you accommodate?
We have a limited number of instructors on any given day, so if
you are planning on bringing a large group (100 or more), it is
best to schedule at least six months in advance so that we may
have enough staff available for your trip. We have no minimum
number on trips, however we do have minimum fees if you are bringing
a very small group (see reservation sheet). Trips that typically
have limits and require very advanced booking are boat and canoe
trips, and special lab programs.
Back to the FAQ listing.
7. What if our numbers change?
As long as you arrive and depart with the same number of students
we’ll be happy. However, we hire our staff for the day based
on the number of students/classes that you have reserved in advance.
Any significant change (More than a few absentees) from that number
might be a problem. Please contact us well in advance if your
numbers change significantly. Please keep in mind: We’ll
hire staff and have to charge you, based on the number of students
you told us you were expecting to bring when you reserved with
us initially, and we will charge you for the number of students
that you originally scheduled with us. Back
to the FAQ listing.
8. What is your student
to teacher ratio?
Typically we provide one instructor per "class" of
20 to 35 students, depending on the program. Please let us
know how many students, classes and buses you will be bringing,
and notify us at least 15-days in advance of any signficant changes
in these numbers.
Field Guides: Please note that we do not have an unlimited
number of field guides available each day, and that in the peak
seasons that everyone wants to participate (April-June and September-November)
you may have to divide or pool classes to match the number of
instructors we have available. If this presents a problem, you
should schedule outside the peak season, especially in the spring.
Back to the FAQ listing.
9. How many chaperones do
you require?
We are flexible on this and must rely on your judgment to bring
enough help to ensure the safety and comfort of your students.
A suggested ratio for high school students is 10:1. For young
students or special programs, you might consider a ratio of 5:1.
For classes with young students who are too small to go in
the water and collect marinelife, parents (or teachers) should
be dressed appropriately and plan to get wet or use waders or
hip boots. Parents who join the trip should be prepared to "get
their feet wet" or otherwise assist in the presentations.
Cars: Although parents and chaperones are welcome
to join your group free-of-charge, they should be riding on the
bus, not driving cars.Parking is very limited around our building
and cars parked at the beach lots should have (paid) passes purchased
at the fee booth at the entrance.
Back to the FAQ listing.
10. Do these chaperones
pay?
No, not for most of our programs. On certain special programs
(boat trips, canoe trips, etc.) we might have to charge an additional
fee. Any additional charges for staff or chaperones will be indicated
on bills for boat trips or canoe trips. Boat trips must be paid
for in-full and in advance.
Cars: Although parents and chaperones are welcome
to join your group free-of-charge, they should be riding on the
bus, not driving cars.Parking is very limited around our building
and cars parked at the beach lots should have (paid) passes purchased
at the fee booth at the entrance.
Back to the FAQ listing.
11. How do we pay for our
trips?
Please pay in advance by check, Purchase Order*,
or credit card. When you schedule with us in writing you will
receive a confirmation and a bill. Checks and Purchase Orders
for the Ocean Institute should be made out to: BCC-Ocean Institute.
The surest way to secure your date is to send us a check with
your reservation for our minimum fee, which is $150.; or better
yet, a P.O. for the full amount. Please plan to pay any
balance before of the date of your trip (At least 30 days in advance).
No personal checks will be accepted from students attending the trip, and we prefer school or organizational checks whenever possible. Please pool the checks and draw one check from either your school or the supervising teacher. Send your request in a plain First Class business envelope; not an oversize envelope, or Express Mail or in anything that needs a signature or special handling. (Our Post Office sub-station is only open part-time and it will delay its delivery to us.).
You must send us a deposit check or a Purchase Order with your reservation. If that is not possible, please send us an explanation from your principal why this is not possible and a commitment as to when you will pay for your trip. (We can sometimes accommodate your request without a deposit, but please note that most of our schools send a payment when they register and these are the requests that are processed first.)
*Remember:
A Purchase Order doesn't cost your school anything to generate,
but is a suitable commitment to us that you are coming and that
your school will pay your bill in a reasonable amount of time.
Note: Since
2006, Spring reservations (Mailed to us in September) we will
only accept PO's or checks for the full amount; so please forewarn
your business office before the end of the school year.
Please pay in advance and do not plan to bring payment on the
day of your program since processing it can be time comsuming
or confusing.
Back to the FAQ listing.
12. What about refunds?
Refunds are issued by the College in the form of checks or credit
towards future programs. Refund checks can take more than 30 days
to be issued, so it is imperative that you are certain of the
date, program and number of participants when you schedule. Remember!!!
Please make sure that you register the proper number of students/classes
that you plan to bring.
Trips are rarely canceled by us except in VERY severe weather, and generally, we have fair warning of approaching northeasters or hurricanes. (Plenty of time for you to communicate with us.) If your trip cannot be rescheduled, you will receive a full refund. It is your responsibility to check the weather forecasts well in advance of your trip and to contact us if there are any concerns about the weather. We understand how difficult it is for you to arrange buses, substitutes and parents for your trip, and will make every attempt to run your trip on the scheduled date. If we don't hear from you, we will generally assume you are coming rain-or-shine, pay our staff for the day, and you will be charged for a program.
The best conditions for our most popular field trips are encountered during a fairly narrow window during the school year (March 20 to June 30 and September 15 to November 30). Therefore, if you cancel a trip without sufficient notice (60 days), we may have to retain a portion to cover our expenses and pay the staff that we have hired for that day, if we cannot schedule another school in your place. Back to the FAQ listing.
13. Where and when do we
meet for our field trip?
Most of our programs begin at 10:00 a.m. at Building 53 on Sandy
Hook. If you anticipate arriving earlier at Sandy Hook, you should
make a bathroom stop at Parking Lot D (Seagull's Nest). This will
save time later on when your field trip is in progress. Please
plan to arrive at our building, ready to divide your classes for
a 10:00 start. Our instructors will be ready to work with your
group at 10:00 a.m., please insure that your group will have adequate
to arrive and be ready to learn.
WARNING! Most bills are issued by the College’s main office (Not our world headquarters at Sandy Hook) and you may inadvertently receive a computer-generated map of the campus and instructions of where to park the buses (Example: "All bus trips meet in Lot 1"). BE CAREFUL, THIS INFORMATION MAY BE INCORRECT! Unless your trip is scheduled at our main campus in Lincroft/Lot #1 (very few trip are scheduled to meet there) make sure that you have the instructions to go directly to Sandy Hook.) (WARNING #2: "A little knowledge is dangerous." Occasionally a bus driver will insist that he/she "knows how to get to Brookdale College," REMEMBER, you are probably not going to our main campus in Lincroft or to the Monmouth Museum on our main campus...Assert yourself, if necessary...YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING TO SANDY HOOK, BUILDING 53, "OUT BY THE LIGHTHOUSE!"
(Boat trips, canoe trips and other special programs like geology usually meet at other locations. Please check the reservation forms that we send you and call us if you have any questions or concerns about the location.) Back to the FAQ listing.
14. How do we get to Sandy
Hook?
Sandy Hook is located on all road maps in New Jersey. Building
53 is located 100 yards west of the Sandy Hook Lighthouse in the
middle of Fort Hancock. (Just follow the signs for the lighthouse
when you enter the park.) Sandy Hook is reached via Route 36 in
Highlands, New Jersey. Route 36 is reached from north Jersey at
Exit 117 from the Garden State Parkway or from south Jersey via
exit 105/Long Branch.
Click here
for a map of Sandy Hook and the sites your class will visit.
P.S. Print this out for your bus
driver.
Fees are collected at the front gate of the park between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Don’t panic. Inform the toll takers that you are going to Fort Hancock for a program with Brookdale Community College. Generally, you will be waved through the entrance with a smile. Also, please observe the many changes in speed limits once you are on Sandy Hook. Advise the bus driver to stick to 25 miles per hour to enjoy the scenery and you won't have any problems on Sandy Hook. Otherwise, you may need to bring a check for a more substantial amount for when you or your bus driver appears in Federal court at Fort Monmouth to dispute the speeding ticket you received for exceeding the posted speed limit of 25 miles an hour by the Ranger Station and in Fort Hancock.
Public transportation is available only to Highlands (Academy buses). Taxi service is available in the Highlands/Middletown areas. (See Yellow Pages for Monmouth County.) Back to the FAQ listing.
15. Will we need the bus
all day and where do we park it?
Yes. The drivers will be able to buy coffee or lunch at nearby
businesses; however, we will need the buses to move us around
Sandy Hook. Please, make sure that the bus company and the drivers
are aware of this in advance. When you arrive at the Lighthouse/Building
53, PLEASE do
not park or idle the buses near the Brookdale Building. Please
park the buses where directed near the Lighthouse.
This is where staff will meet you to unload your buses.
Cars: Although parents and chaperones are welcome
to join your group free-of-charge, they should be riding on the
bus, not driving cars.Parking is very limited around our building
and cars parked at the beach lots should have (paid) passes purchased
at the fee booth at the entrance.
Back to the FAQ listing.
16. Lunch for the bus drivers.
Drivers should brown bag their lunches and plan to be with us
all day. The concession stands at the Park are not opened year
round, but there are luncheonettes in Sea Bright and Highlands,
off Sandy Hook. Back to the FAQ listing.
17. When should we get
there and how long is our trip?
We rely on you to indicate on your written reservation form when
you expect to arrive at Sandy Hook. Please check with your transportation
coordinator or bus company concerning your district’s permitted
dismissal times. Most groups arrive at 10:00 and depart at 1:30.
This gives us three and one half hours for instructional activities
and lunch. Please advise us on your written reservation form of
any deviations from this schedule. (Here’s a tip! Some groups
that must leave early plan to work through lunchtime and eat on
the bus ride home.)
Some sample drive times to help you gauge the length of your trip:
Trenton to Sandy Hook - one hour and fifteen minutes
Newark to Sandy Hook - one hour and twenty minutes
Mahwah to Sandy Hook - one hour and forty minutes
N.Y.C. to Sandy Hook - one hour and thirty minutes
Philadelphia to Sandy Hook - two hours.
(Please note that you may be heading toward Sandy Hook during
rush hour, and therefore may need to add some time to your estimated
drive time. Any trips scheduled between Memorial Day and Labor
Day may encounter beach traffic at Sandy Hook’s entrance
and should plan accordingly.) Back to the FAQ listing.
18. What will we do when
we get there?
Read the answer to this question first and then check out the
virtual field trip here.
Parking: please park where instructed near Sandy Hook Lighthouse.
The Lighthouse is approximately 4 miles from the entrance of the
Park. Follow the signs for Fort Hancock, Brookdale and the Lighthouse.
Keep the students on the bus while you check in with us. Please don’t charge into the building with your class in tow, insisting on using the bathroom. Chances are there’s another class ahead of you. Plan to stop at Lot D (Sea Gulls Nest) where there are adequate restroom facilities available as you enter the park.
Check-in: Building 53 is 100 yards west of the Lighthouse. Go to the West side of the building and go downstairs to meet our instructors and check in, exchange any paperwork and confirm the number of students and your program requests or special needs. (Our staff will meet you at the bus if you are right on schedule.)
Land trips: A TYPICAL PROGRAM WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING: (Most schools visit us for 3-4 hours, including a lunch break. Our instructors expect you to stay between 10:00-1:30. If your schedule deviates from this by more than 15 minutes, please make a special note of this on your reservation.) Arrive: 30 minute orientation at Building 53, (history of Fort Hancock, geology of Sandy Hook, what we expect to find on the beach, and any special requests that you have made in advance like careers or pollution.) An oceanside walk of about one hour (shell collecting, beach botany, pollution, erosion, etc.) A break for lunch (30 minutes.) A marsh study (60 minutes) or other bayside activity (fish collecting with seine nets, marsh walk, birdwatching, botany, water chemistry, etc.) 30 minute wrap-up activity and equipment clean up. Departure.
The order of activities may vary depending on weather, on the time of low tide at the marsh, or specific activities that you have requested in advance. You can insure that we will have sufficient time for all of the activities if you stop and use the major park restroom areas as you enter Sandy Hook and before reaching Building 53. (Lots D and E have the largest restroom facilities on the Hook.)
When you check in, please review with our instructors those activities that you would like to stress or topics that you hope to cover. Generally, we can guarantee a full day of varied activities for your students - behavior and weather permitting.
Before you leave: take a head count, fill in the evaluation form of our staff and program.
Boat trips and special programs: Remember, boat trips or canoe trips and other special programs might leave from a different location and you may have to adjust your times. If you are scheduled for one of these special programs, you will receive an itinerary specific to that program with locations given. (Most of you reading this, or those few that have hung on this far, can ignore this paragraph because you are coming for our regular Sandy Hook land program.) Back to the FAQ listing.
19. What about lunch and
trash?
No, we don’t provide lunch for your students. Students should
bring their own lunches and drinks. We will take a break at the
middle of our program for lunch at picnic tables near the Fort
or at the beach, whichever you prefer. Please advise us of your
preferences upon arrival at Sandy Hook. Sandy Hook is "Carry
in, carry out." You must be responsible for your own trash,
so please remember to bring trash
and recycling bags.
(Use this as an opportunity for a lesson in recycling and waste
reduction for your class.) We can assist you with the disposal
of sorted materials but remember, there are no trash containers
at the park beaches. Snacks are a good idea for short breaks and
for the ride home.
(See checklist) Back
to the FAQ listing.
20. Where are the bathrooms?
Upon entering the Park, notice the parking lots are in alphabetical
order, beginning with B (or Bayberry). B and C (or Chokecherry).
Each has small restrooms. You will pass the largest of the restroom
areas at D lot (Seagull’s Nest) near the park Visitor
Center. It is important that you stop
and use these restrooms BEFORE proceeding out to Fort Hancock.
Our bathroom facilities at Building 53 and around the Fort area
are quite limited and it is very time consuming if you wait to
use our facilities. Restrooms are located at most parking lots
around Sandy Hook but the Lot-D area is the preferred "first
stop."
In the cooler months (December-March), the bathrooms may be limited
to individual unisex facilities because of maintenance or winterization.
There is no set schedule or policy regarding these closing and
they vary each year depending on the severity of the winter, etc.
(Note: The North Beach bathroom facility is completely
closed during the cold months.) Other facilities are indicated
on our Fort Hancock Map, Virtual tour and Trip maps.
Strongly consider stopping at a Parkway rest area before exiting
for Sandy Hook. This will also save time once you arrive here
for a program.
Back to the FAQ listing.
21. Is Sandy Hook handicap
accessible?
Yes and no. Unfortunately all sites and activities are not yet
fully accessible. Sandy Hook is in the process of upgrading all
of its facilities. The most accessible site at this time (2001)
is the Visitor’s Center in Spermaceti Cove. Restrooms at
lots B, C, D and E are wheelchair accessible. Our staff accommodates
a wide variety of visitors each year. If you have special needs,
please let us know when you request a trip so that we can adjust
our activities to better suit your students.
(Note: there is a "beach wheel chair" available through the National Park Service at Sandy Hook. We have no connection with the Park Service nor do we arrange the wheel chair. You must contact them directly to make any arrangements for use of that item. This may be a time consuming stop on your way into Sandy Hook so please plan accordingly. The Park Service phone number is (732) 872-5900.)
If you have special-needs students or special requests (waivers, etc.), these must be stated with your field trip request form. Please do not contact us after the trip is scheduled to make additional requests. One person - the teacher, principal or secretary - should be the sole contact for the group. Please have parents make special requests through that that person. This will avoid confusion on the day of your trip. Back to the FAQ listing.
22. What should the kids
wear on the trip?
Since the weather is often quite different at the shore than inland,
you should make sure the students are prepared for any possible
extremes in temperature or other weather factors. Layering is
very important. It is better to bring too much than too little.
Hats are a good idea in any season since they will protect the
students from sun or wind. Long sleeved shirts can always be rolled
up and are good protection against wind or sunburn. Raingear is
a must (see below) and proper footwear (see below). Some items
you might consider bringing are: sunglasses, Chapstick, first
aid kit, towel, extra clothing for forgetful students. A small
daypack or knapsack to carry the student’s personal gear
will allow them to have their hands free to better explore Sandy
Hook. Shorts and a bathing suit
are the preferred clothing
during warm weather trips between May and October when water activities
warrant students getting their feet wet. A towel and a sweatsuit
are handy items for those lucky students who may be getting wet
(up to the waist) while they haul the nets.
Remember: Pale is the new Tan. Don't forget sunscreen.
*Special note:regarding boat trips: Students must wear sneakers on boat trips. Sandals and open toed shoes are not acceptable footwear. Excessively baggy pants and jackets could get caught on tackle, railings, ladders and on hooks on the boat. Please have the students dress sensibly and accordingly. The boat is not handicap accessible. Please do not try to make exceptions. (See the boat rip information.)
Name tags It is very helpful for our staff and it will enhance your program if we know the names of your students. Name tags are strongly suggested.
Common courtesy: Our instructors are hired to be resource people and "scientists for the day", not to supervise or discipline your students. Please ask the students to give our instructors their full attention and to cooperate by volunteering to carry equipment and clean it after the program. PLEASE, no gum, no smoking, no disruptive behavior. Remind them that a field trip is an extension of the classroom and this behavior is unacceptable here as well as at school. Also, when at Building 53, remind students that college students and adults will be attending lectures in adjacent classrooms, and it is important that students talk quietly and behave properly. If you assign numbers to the students beforehand, this will help us when we need to recruit volunteers and you when it is time to take a head count.
Please forewarn the students beforehand that, for safety concerns, they should never throw rocks and shells in the water. This activity can be controlled by you by allowing the students to have a contest at the end of our program when everyone is out of the water.
Clipboards and handouts We strongly recommend that you provide the students with clipboards, pencils and check-off lists that are available upon request to make their exploration of Sandy Hook an educational experience. We do not provide these materials to each student; however, we suggest that you have the material that we can send you with your confirmation made available to your students either individually or in small study groups. Simple clipboards can be made by stapling handouts to 8x11-inch pieces of cardboard.
If you need check-off and data sheets, we can fax or mail them to you if you request them 30-days or more before your trip. Email us with your request, date of trip, address and fax number. Back to the FAQ listing.
23. Should the kids wear
sneakers?
Yes. The students should wear shoes that can get wet
on any field trip in any season. Bring a change of socks
and sneakers in case you get into deep water. Aqua socks are also
okay, but provide less protection against sharp objects in the
water. The only kids in the water should be those that the teacher
needs to retrieve equipment, run seine nets, get water, etc. Sandals
are not a good idea on any field trip because they don’t
protect the whole foot. Bring a large garbage bag to hold wet
shoes, socks and other clothing. This will keep the bus clean
and your driver happy. Our "boot-season"
is mid-October to mid-May only,
and we have waders available for selected students or adults when
the water is cold. In the warmer months (Mid-May to mid-October)
the students should be prepared to get
their feet wet at least
to the knees while selected ones (Who fare best in bathing suits.)
haul the nets. If you assign numbers to the students beforehand,
this will help us with an impartial procedure when we need to
recruit volunteers. Back to the FAQ listing.
24. What if it rains?
Phonemail at (732) 224-2900 x 1302.
As long as you are prepared for it, there is never bad weather
on a field trip. A) Cancellations: we rarely
postpone trips because of the weather, and our tight schedule,
and to accommodate you since we know it is difficult for you to
reschedule, especially in the spring. It
is your responsibility to check the weather forecast and contact
our Rain-line 24-36 hours before your trip. We can
discuss alternatives at that point, based on the forecast. On
the morning of the trip, you may call our 24 hour weather update
line Phonemail at (732) 224-2900 x 1302, for further instructions.
B) The Ocean Institute should be your doorway to the outdoors,
here are some of the options that have worked well in the past:
rotating classes through our classroom at Sandy Hook, the Visitor’s
Center, the Museum, and Lighthouse Museum (we also have slide
shows, videos and hands-on demonstrations available). The bus
can also be used as a classroom-on-wheels and as a refuge from
the weather between hikes. C) Raingear should be brought
if there is any chance of rain in the forecast. Hooded sweatshirts
are also a great idea. Large size trash bags make cheap and effective
rain ponchos in a pinch by cutting out the corners for arms and
a place for their little heads. D) The good news is: Often,
the weather is milder at the shore, or weather patterns that are
predicted inland arrive here much later than in the northern or
western parts of the state. It is not unusual to have perfectly
good weather here at Sandy Hook, in spite of the forecast for
North Jersey and NYC.
We realize how difficult it is for you to plan your trip, so when we say we go "rain-or-shine" it is to try and accommodate your needs as best as possible. Check the weather page long before your trip date to understand the procedures and how to prepare for a bad forecast. Back to the FAQ listing.
25. What safety concerns
will my principal have?
If you have special-needs students or special requests (waivers,
etc.), these must be stated with your field trip request form.
Please do not contact us after the trip is scheduled to make additional
requests. One person - the teacher, principal or secretary - should
be the sole contact for the group. Please have parents make special
requests through that that person. This will avoid confusion on
the day of your trip.
Swimming is not part of our program and students should be advised
of this beforehand. Wading and entering the water with nets in
a supervised setting and with limited numbers of students are
important aspects of our programs. This is a supervised activity
and we will rely on the students to demonstrate proper behavior
and follow all safety guidelines. The biggest temptation for the
students and the biggest safety concern is bare feet. Students
should wear proper foot gear at all times to protect against
such things as rocks and broken seashells.
Boots and "boot season": We have a limited number of adult-sized hip boots available for water work during the colder seasons (from approximately October first through May 15th). From approximately May 15th through October first, you should plan to have the students wade in shorts and sneakers, and bring a change of clothes. If you are bringing very young students, you should also recruit parents or teachers to assist in the water work by wearing the hip waders. If your school insists on students not getting wet, you should book your trip between October first and before May 15th, our cooler season.
The College is insured for its activities. If you need additional information, such as a copy of our insurance certificate, please indicate on your reservation form what your documentation needs will be when you register.
Students are not permitted to climb onto or into any of the Forts or other military structures at Sandy Hook. Rocks at the shore and the seawall are slippery and students should not climb on them at any time. Please, no running and other horseplay.
Traffic can also be hazardous and students should be aware of this and remain with their field trip leader at all times. Many people are commuting to and from Sandy Hook because they work there, and beach visitors have recreation on their minds and may not be anticipating students darting out in front of their cars. Students should only cross roads in clearly marked areas and should remain behind their field trip leader at all times. You must control your students at all times. Our leaders rely on you to do that. Back to the FAQ listing.
26. Special programs (boat
trips, canoe trips, etc.)
No special equipment is needed for most of our programs at Sandy
Hook; however, separate rules, directions and instructions will
be sent to you if you are participating in any of our special
programs. All participants in these programs will be required
to be instructed in the use of special safety equipment such as
life jackets, and wear them when requested. The boat and canoe
trips are not handicap accessible. Please do not bring participants
who cannot climb up and down a ladder without assistance.
For information on a typical boat trip, click here. Back to the FAQ listing.
27. Merit Badge/Scout Badge
Programs
Many of our activities at Sandy Hook will qualify for recognition
by the Scouts. If any of your students are interested, please
let us know beforehand. Back to the FAQ listing.
28. Are overnight facilities
available?
Yes, there is a National Park Service group camping area and a
Park Service dormitory (see phone listing.) Some groups have utilized
nearby motels in Middletown or Sea Bright. (see phone listing.)
We can assist you in arranging these special services after you
have scheduled a program with us. Back to the FAQ
listing.
29. What about lions, tigers
and bears?
Yes, ticks are found in fields at Sandy Hook, just like fields
all over New Jersey. Luckily, the Park Service has not reported
deer ticks on Sandy Hook. A good precaution on any field trip
is to check the students at the end of the trip. We do not take
students into grassy fields on our trips, and there is little
reason to expect ticks out in the beach and marsh areas where
we do our work.
Yes, there is plenty of poison ivy on Sandy Hook. In fact, it’s one of the most valuable plants here! We identify it early in our lesson to the students, and keep away from it during our field trip by staying on clearly marked paths. There is little reason to expect to find poison ivy out in the beach and wetland areas where we do our work.
Yes, there are bees and other stinging critters at Sandy Hook just like the rest of the state. Generally these are only a problem at certain seasons. Yellow jackets (late summer and fall) are attracted to food and trash cans. Students should be advised of this before lunch during those seasons. Most bees are attracted to bright colors, sweets and hair spray, and it is a good idea to avoid these situations if possible.
Yes, there are biting insects at the beach just like in other wetland areas of New Jersey. They are only a problem at certain times of the day (mosquitoes - night, gnats - calm days in summer, flies - hot days in summer). The best protection against biting insects is to know a little about their life cycle and to avoid those places and times when they are most active. Fortunately, these insects are rarely a problem at the times that we are having field trips. PLEASE DO NOT BRING BUG SPRAY or any spray into the building! A better and safer protection would be proper dress and Avon’s Skin So Soft oil (a 50% solution in a spray bottle seems to work quite well.)
Yes, prickly pear cactus is pretty to look at but DON’T PICK IT! Our instructors will show you many unique defensive structures that the cactus and other plants at Sandy Hook have developed to protect themselves from animals.
PLEASE DON’T BRING ‘EM BACK ALIVE. All plant and animal life at the Park is protected. Please do not allow the students to bring home ANY live creature. Empty seashells and other treasures found on our beach walks can be kept by the students. It’s a good idea to warn the students to sniff any materials before they put them in their buckets and bags, and this way they will avoid the embarrassment of no one wanting to sit next to them on the bus ride home. Who knows?...They may even save the life of a hermit crab by doing this simple check! Back to the FAQ listing.
30. Summer camps?
Brookdale offers a Summer Ocean Adventures camp for elementary
school students. This camp is run out of the Main Campus and you
must contact the Main Campus directly for information and to register.
Information on the camps and schedules are posted every year around
January 1. Write for a brochure to: Summer
Camps-BCD, Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Spring Road,
Lincroft, N.J. 07738.
Back to the FAQ listing.
31. Should we bring a first
aid kit?
Yes, absolutely. Some suggested items to include in addition to
the basics: suntan lotion, Noxzema, Skin-So- Soft, tweezers, bee
sting kit, duct tape for removing cactus spines and other botanical
curiosities, motion sickness medication, ice and baggies. Back to the FAQ listing.
32. Emergencies
National Park Service Rangers handle all emergencies at Sandy
Hook since they are the local police. First aid calls are handled
by Highlands Borough First Aid Squad. In the event of an emergency
our staff will assist you in every way and contact the Park Rangers
(732-872-5900). However, it is a good idea for you to bring along
the following information: contacts for medical emergencies at
your school, parents’ telephone numbers, medical histories
of known special needs children, a plan for emergency transportation
of sick or disruptive students back to school, local hospitals
where students might be transported by the Rangers/first aid squad
(Riverview-Red Bank, Monmouth Medical-Long Branch, see telephone
number list). Please be aware that there is no gas station on
Sandy Hook and that chaperones/drivers or buses will have to rely
on AAA or their own road service. Please bring a list of all participants
and their telephone numbers in case a student wanders from the
group. If a student is lost he/she should be instructed beforehand
to tell a Park Ranger that he/she is with an Ocean Institute/Brookdale
College field trip. It is also important that the students know
which bus company is transporting them. Back to
the FAQ listing.
Field Trip 