Scientific Process and Inquiry Skills are promoted and reinforced throughout the field trip as students learn about organisms, habitats, communities, and ecosystems, as well as the environmental and geological factors that influence them.

The first half of the field trip will be spent on the boat exploring the tidal creeks of the salt marsh. Depending on the grade level of the group, different topics will be discussed including: Spartina grass and its role, plant/animal species identification, oyster bed communities, species diversity, marsh hammock ecology, geology of the salt marsh, and the importance of the salt marsh to humans and the Atlantic Ocean.

The students are able to expeience and learn about marine life as their knowledgeable and well versed naturalist pulls , crab traps and a sampling net. The specimens caught are put into an aquarium and discussed by your naturalist. Common catches include sponges, sea whip, brittle stars, mud crabs, blue crabs, stone crabs, peppermint shrimp, decorator crabs, goby fish, toad fish, and an occasional octopus or horseshoe crab.
The second half of the trip will be spent on the beach at Capers Island State Heritage Preserve. With over 2000 acres, Capers Island is a pristine barrier island which was bought by South Carolina in 1975 for the purpose of preserving it in its natural state.

On Capers Island there are a diversity of shells and our guides have fascinating facts about the lives of the animals which made them. Other topics such as barrier island formation, sand dune formation and their importance, loggerhead sea turtles, erosion, beach ecology, and the maritime forest can be discussed. Capers Island is an excellent example of erosion and accretion. Most of the island has been eroding for many years and the presence of dead trees along the tide line provides a stark visual image of the process. Another illustration the island offers is that of accretion as evidenced by the significant formation of sand dunes over the salt marsh at the southern end.
If you would like to focus on the maritime forest, there is a 3/4 mile trail that winds its way through the island before opening onto Boneyard Beach. Along the trail you will pass through salt marsh, a fresh water pond, a large brackish water impoundment, the maritime forest, and an extensive dune field. These interior ponds are teeming with bird life and are a home to several shy alligators. Along this path our staff will discuss topics including alligators, bird life/identification, uses of the maritime forest by humans, plant identification and adaptaions.

Our Barrier Island Ecology field trip is one of the most fun and educational Charleston field trips. If you are looking for a Charleston educational field trip you must give Barrier Island EcoTours a call. Our school programs are alligned with the South Carolina school standards.

Email us or call 843-886-5000 before you plan your next Charleston field trip experience.