Brookdale College programs
DIRECTIONS for two locations:
1. Beach programs begin at the Sandy Hook Lighthouse area. (Check your reservation and map).
Sandy Hook is reached via Routes 36 or 520 through Highlands or Sea Bright.
Follow signs to Gateway National Recreation Area - Sandy Hook Unit.
At the park, follow signs to the lighthouse and Brookdale Community College.
(Don't forget to stop at the D-Lot restrooms - Sea Gulls Nest
before continuing to Building 53.)
2. Bayshore programs begin at locations off of Sandy Hook (Check your reservation and map).
NOTE: Programs are scheduled by mail only.
For more information visit the Brookdale Environmental Education PAGE for FAQ's.
Check the calendar for available dates.
Make your reservation ASAP. NOTE: You must submit your requests in writing.
The Map. Check your reservation to confirm your meeting location!
Please e-mail sandyhook@brookdalecc.edu with questions.
Contact:
Brookdale Environmental Education Trips
Office of Business and Community Development - OBCD
Brookdale Community College (BCC)
765 Newman Springs Rd.
Lincroft, NJ 07738-9988
732-224-2315
(732) 224-2901 x 7246 (Weather emergency line)
Email: sandyhook@brookdalecc.edu
1. We are:
We are Outreach Business and Community Development of Brookdale Community College.
2. Telephone calls?
Voicemail for Weather concerns and updates 732-224-2901 x 7246
To ensure that there is no confusion about your trip, must reserve 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.
3. Is there a good time to call?
Voicemail for Weather concerns and updates is Phonemail at (732) 224-2901 x 7246
It is checked daily.
Email is best: sandyhook@brookdalecc.edu
Please remember that we schedule by mail only!
4. What if I absolutely have to get in touch with you TODAY?
If you are calling about a field trip that is scheduled for today 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, and 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) 224-2901 x 7246. There will be a daily weather update on this line.
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) 224-2901 x 7246.
5. How to 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. Book programs well in advance to reserve the date of your choice Although we do occasionally get a cancellation, we cannot guarantee accommodating you unless you register well in advance and by mail. Give us a variety of dates.
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:
- the number of students
- grade
- number of classes
- program you would like to participate in and arrival/departure times at Sandy Hook
- three dates each preferably a week apart when you are certain that your school can attend
- your address
- day and evening telephone numbers
- Fax number
- email address
- A check or purchase order for the full amount.
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).
7. What if our numbers change?
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 must charge you for the number of students that you originally scheduled with us.
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 significant changes in these numbers.
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.
10. Do these teachers and chaperones pay?
Teachers are free; and a few parents as chaperones are also welcome.
However for groups bringing a large number of adults, such as scout groups or family outings, we may ask that they be charged as well. Please advise us if you have questions when you submit your reservation.
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-OBCD The surest way to secure your date is to send us a check with your reservation for our minimum fee, which is $200.; 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).
You must send us a check or a purchase order with your reservation.
*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 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 consuming or confusing.
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 cancelled by us except in 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 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 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.
13. Where and when do we meet for our field trip?
You will receive a map and directions along with your confirmation.Most programs start at Sandy Hook, near the Lighthouse and Brookdale building.
14. How do we get to our program sites?
Buses are needed for most of the day. You will receive a map and directions along with your confirmation.
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. Please, make sure that the bus company and the drivers are aware of this in advance.
16. Lunch for the bus drivers.
Drivers should brown bag their lunches and plan to be with us all day.
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.. 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.
18. What will we do when we get there?
Keep the students on the bus while you check in with us.
Check-in: Bring your confirmation and meet our leaders. Leave students and materials on the bus.
Land trips: A typical program will consist of the following: (Most schools visit us for 3.5 hours, including a lunch break. Our instructors expect you between 10:00-2:00. If your schedule deviates from this by more than 15 minutes, please make a special note of this on your reservation.) Arrive: (history , geology , what we expect to find and any special requests that you have made in advance like careers or pollution.) A 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, 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.
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.
19. What about lunch and trash?
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 the beach. NJ parks are all "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.
20. Where are the bathrooms?
Facilities are indicated on our maps that you receive with your confirmation.
Strongly consider stopping at a Parkway rest areas before exiting. This will also save time once you arrive here for a program.
21. Are these areas handicap accessible?
Unfortunately some sites and activities are not yet fully 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.
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.
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. 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.
Don't forget sunscreen.
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. 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 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.
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.
24. What if it rains?
Phonemail at (732) 224-2901 x 7246.
As long as you are prepared for it, there is never bad weather on a field trip.
A) Cancellations: we try not to postpone trips 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) 224-2901 x 7246, for further instructions.
B)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 the shore, 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 and as safely as possible.
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.
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. 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.
26. Special programs
No special equipment is needed for most of our programs; 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 equipment s when requested.
27. Merit Badge/Scout Badge Programs
Many of our activities will qualify for recognition by the Scouts. If any of your students are interested, please let us know beforehand.
28. Are overnight facilities available?
No.
29. Safety concerns?
Ticks? 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 at the shore. 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 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. 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.)
PLEASE DON’T BRING ‘EM BACK ALIVE. 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!
30. Summer camps?
Brookdale offers a Summer camps 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-OBCD, Brookdale Community College, 765 Newman Spring Road, Lincroft, N.J. 07738.
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.
32. Emergencies
Local First Aid squads handle serious medical emergencies and your leader should have a cell phone to call 911. Please bring a list of all participants and their telephone numbers in case a student is hurt or wanders from the group. It is also important that the students know which bus company is transporting them.
