Staffing
Teachers, assistants, and parents (naturalist on site)

Length of trip
1 day

Travel time
1.5 hours each way

Food
Lunch and snack to be brought by students

Transportation
Carpools to be arranged by teachers and roomparents

Objectives

1. To culminate study of tidepool ecosystem.
2. To study beach, sand, and algae.
3. To learn about marine mammals.

The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, one of the San Mateo County parks, is located in Moss Beach about an hour south of San Francisco. This marine reserve was established in 1969 to protect hundreds of marine plant and animal species. Since it has become a protected area, scientists have been able to study this rich and complex habitat. They have discovered 25 new marine invertebrate and plant species. They have also discovered several endemic species (those that live nowhere else but at the preserve).

This spectacular stretch of coastline includes a shallow marine shelf that is exposed during low tides. The large shelf extends from Montara Light Station to the Pillar Point Harbor.

During low tides, many marine animals are exposed and visible in the tidepools. Each pool holds a treasure of colorful and unusual plants and animals.

Reprinted by permission of sfgate.
More information available at http://www.sfgate.com/getoutside/1996/jun/fitz.html