he Pre-College Program is designed to give secondary, middle and elementary school students hands-on opportunities to investigate coastal/maritime environments during the spring and fall. The 3-day Coastal Ecology program includes the following half day field trips: oceanography research cruise, intertidal beaches, sand dunes, salt marshes, and maritime forest. Evening programs consist of an oceanographic equipment lecture and micro and macro-organism laboratories. One evening is left free for individualized group activities.

Teachers typically schedule their groups to arrive Sunday afternoon and depart Wednesday after lunch, or to arrive Wednesday afternoon and depart Saturday after lunch. Programs longer or shorter than the 3-day program may also be scheduled according to facility availability. Groups are scheduled on a first-come/first-served basis, so reservations should be made early.

Because of boat limitations, each group should be between 15 and 23 total participants or multiples of this group size. Total participants includes both students and chaperons. There must be two chaperons for every 21 students, and a male and female chaperon must accompany a mixed group. If group size is below 15, there is an extra charge for each person less than the minimum 15. There will be one MSC instructor for each group of 23 participants.

The student fee covers room and board, administration charges, all instruction, research cruise, and use of all pre-college station facilities during the program. All meals are served in the station cafeteria. On the free night, typical activities include a local seafood party purchased by the group, beach party at Assateague National Seashore, and visits to area attractions (restaurants, pizza shops, theater, mini-golf, roller rink, bowling alley, gift shops, etc.). During most days the Visitor Centers at NASA, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, and Assateague National Seashore are open free of charge.

An MSC instructor conducts all field trips, lectures, and labs.
Teachers/chaperons are expected to take an active part helping instructors to individualize the program and maintain an appropriate educational environment, both on and off the MSC. The level of instruction is geared to grade level and science background. Programs may be shortened or modified for students younger than fourth grade.

Each student must complete and sign an Acceptance/Medical Release Form. Transportation to and from the MSC is the responsibility of the school. The Consortium has a limited number of buses for local fieldtrips, at an additional cost.

(First three photos accompanying text by Michael Higgins)