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North Monomoy Island Exploration
Sponsored by Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Mon, Aug 27, 2012 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Location: Chatham, Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge Audience: All (suitable for children 6 - 18 years) Members: Adult $35.00, Child $30.00 Nonmembers: Adult $40.00, Child $35.00
Explore the sandy beaches, salt marsh, and tidal flats on North Monomoy Island, part of the National Wildlife Refuge off the coast of Chatham. North Monomoy is the site of herring and black-backed gull colonies, and a small common tern colony. Of all of our Chatham-based trips, this exploration tour offers the best opportunity to find the largest variety of animals, from shorebirds and wading birds (egrets and herons) to shellfish and juvenile horseshoe crabs. Please note that seals are not typically seen on this trip.
This wildlife excursion begins with a 15-20 minute boat shuttle to North Monomoy Island, and involves moderate walking while we circumnavigate the island, covering up to 2 miles of beach and salt marsh. The group will remain with the naturalist for the entirety of the trip as there are several restricted areas on the island. Trip participants meet 30 minutes before the program at Veteran's Field Road in Chatham (directions will be provided) for a Mass Audubon van shuttle to Outermost Harbor Marine where we will board a small vessel.
We invite children as young as six years old to join us on this excursion. Parents, please note that we rely on your judgment of the suitability of this trip for your child(ren). We encourage you to consider your child's previous experiences in the conditions described below. The boat schedule does not allow for early returns.
Instructions and Directions: Pre-registration required. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Program registrations will not be taken on-site by the program leader.
This trip involves wading ashore from a boat; your feet will get wet and you may get wet up to your knees or thighs, depending on the tide and your stature. Please be prepared to walk on wet sand or wade through salt marsh for up to 2 miles; note that walking on sand is more strenuous that walking on dirt or concrete. You will be exposed to sun, wind, and salt spray. We recommend that you bring binoculars, sunscreen, windbreaker, hat, and drinking water. Bathrooms are available at the docks (or at the meeting locations), but not on the beaches. To protect your feet from sharp shells, we require everyone to keep their shoes on at the beach; Tevas, Crocs, and aquasocks are good choices. All children age12 and under are required to wear life jackets (provided) on the boat to comply with state law.
Please note our cancellation policy: In order to receive a refund, you must notify us of your cancellation at least 7 days before the program begins. If we cancel the program, you will receive a full refund. We reserve the right to change programs, schedules, and instructors, and to cancel programs due to unfavorable weather.
Exploring wild areas can lead to unique experiences; at the same time, viewing wildlife can be unpredictable. Our program descriptions provide a guideline to what we can expect to see. However, the absence of a particular species is not a valid basis for a refund request.
