FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do I contact/get information about the the Chincoteague Bay Field Station?
There are several ways to contact us: Phone: 757-824-5636 Fax: 757-824-5638 Email: [email protected] |
FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:
School Programs Dept [email protected] (757)824-5636 x 109 |
2. Where is the the Field Station located?
We are located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, about 5 miles south of the Maryland/Virginia border. We neighbor Chincoteague and Assateague Islands and the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. Despite our address in Wallops Island, we are not actually located on an island.
3. What is the Chincoteague Bay Field Station and what other types of programs do you offer?
We are a non-profit environmental learning center and field station supported by 13 member universities. The Field Station was formed in 1968 to promote education and research in the marine and environmental sciences and offer programs which range from elementary to university levels as well as homeschool programs and adult programs.
Additionally, our facility is available for rental by groups who wish to run their own programs.
4. How much money should my child bring on the trip?
All expenses during the program are covered in the student fee. We do have a Ship's Store on campus that has CBFS apparel and a variety of other souvenirs. Check with your group’s leader to see if there are travel expenses or activities planned for Free Night that may involve money.
5. What is the Ship’s Store?
The Ship's Store has Field Station apparel, a variety of souvenirs, plus snacks and drinks.
6. How can parents contact students while they are at the Field Station?
Our office is open from 8am-4:30pm Monday thru Friday. You can call and leave a message with the office staff. If it is a non-office hours emergency, you can call our emergency cell phone which is carried by a staff member from 4:30pm thru 8am. The emergency number is 757-854-8312.
7. Can students bring cell phones or electronics?
The Chincoteague Bay Field Station stresses that electronic devices are not brought on school programs or to camp and are left at home. The Field Station does not accept the responsibility for the loss, damage or theft of such devices. Any abuse of this policy will result in confiscation and storage of electronic device until the end of the trip.
FACILITIES & CAFETERIA
1. What is the Field Station facility like?
Our campus is comprised of the Education Center, several residence halls, a cafeteria, staff housing, administrative offices, maintenance building, several fields and a sand volleyball court. For further description and photographs, visit our Campus page.
2. What are the dormitory facilities like?
Each suite houses 12 students (3 rooms with 4 single beds each) and 2 chaperones (one room with 2 single beds). There are 4 sinks, 4 showers, and 4 toilets in each suite. The dormitory is heated and air conditioned.
3. Do I have to bring my own bedding?
Yes, each participant must bring their own bedding and toiletries. There are single beds in each room.
4. What is the food like? Dietary restriction options?
We have a large cafeteria on campus that is set up in buffet style. There is always a variety of hot food available, as well as a salad bar and cold items. If your child has any dietary restrictions, please let us know as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate allergies and restrictions. Please note that our campus is NOT a peanut-free facility. We do offer peanut butter and nut products in the Dining Hall and Gift Shop. We will accommodate a nut allergy as best we can, but can not guarantee a nut-free environment. If a child has a severe allergy or dietary restriction, they will be allowed to bring their own food and store it in the Dining Hall.
5. What are meal times?
Breakfast -- 8:00am, Lunch – 12:30pm, Dinner – 5:15pm
COASTAL ECOLOGY PROGRAM
1. What will the students learn from the Field Station?
Students will have an invaluable field experience in Ecology, Biology, Marine Science, and Environmental Science. They will learn vessel safety and how to care for sampling equipment. They will learn how to live with some of their classmates, sharing space and working together. They will work with instructors who are recent college graduates and will have the opportunity to speak with them about the Science field.
2. What time should my group arrive at the Field Station?
Groups usually arrive mid-afternoon to allow time for participants to get settled in the dorms prior to starting the program.
3. How many participants constitute “one group”?
Each group has a maximum of 20 students and 3 chaperones. The group of 23 total participants is led by one Field Station staff instructor and is a good group size for field and laboratory activities.
4. What is a chaperone?
A chaperone is usually a parent, teacher, or other school staff member that accompanies the group on their field trip to the Field Station. The chaperones are expected to participate in the program, be with the students at all times, and help to maintain group control.
5. How many chaperones do I need to bring with my group?
We require at least one chaperone per suite of 12 students. For example, 18 students would require two chaperones even though it is only 1 teaching group.
6. What happens during stormy/rainy weather?
During rainy weather we will still go outside and do classes. Students should bring appropriate rain gear. During thunderstorms or severe inclement weather, we have field trips or activities to do with the students indoors. If boat trips are postponed, we will do our best to reschedule the trip during your program.
7. How old do my students have to be?
Our coastal ecology program is tailored for 6th-12th grade. We can cater our program and classes for 3rd-5th grade students. However, there may be some limitations due to their age. For example, students must be at least in 5th grade for both the research cruise and the kayaking classes. Most other classes can be altered to fit the needs of 3rd-5th grade students.
We are located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, about 5 miles south of the Maryland/Virginia border. We neighbor Chincoteague and Assateague Islands and the NASA Wallops Flight Facility. Despite our address in Wallops Island, we are not actually located on an island.
3. What is the Chincoteague Bay Field Station and what other types of programs do you offer?
We are a non-profit environmental learning center and field station supported by 13 member universities. The Field Station was formed in 1968 to promote education and research in the marine and environmental sciences and offer programs which range from elementary to university levels as well as homeschool programs and adult programs.
Additionally, our facility is available for rental by groups who wish to run their own programs.
4. How much money should my child bring on the trip?
All expenses during the program are covered in the student fee. We do have a Ship's Store on campus that has CBFS apparel and a variety of other souvenirs. Check with your group’s leader to see if there are travel expenses or activities planned for Free Night that may involve money.
5. What is the Ship’s Store?
The Ship's Store has Field Station apparel, a variety of souvenirs, plus snacks and drinks.
6. How can parents contact students while they are at the Field Station?
Our office is open from 8am-4:30pm Monday thru Friday. You can call and leave a message with the office staff. If it is a non-office hours emergency, you can call our emergency cell phone which is carried by a staff member from 4:30pm thru 8am. The emergency number is 757-854-8312.
7. Can students bring cell phones or electronics?
The Chincoteague Bay Field Station stresses that electronic devices are not brought on school programs or to camp and are left at home. The Field Station does not accept the responsibility for the loss, damage or theft of such devices. Any abuse of this policy will result in confiscation and storage of electronic device until the end of the trip.
FACILITIES & CAFETERIA
1. What is the Field Station facility like?
Our campus is comprised of the Education Center, several residence halls, a cafeteria, staff housing, administrative offices, maintenance building, several fields and a sand volleyball court. For further description and photographs, visit our Campus page.
2. What are the dormitory facilities like?
Each suite houses 12 students (3 rooms with 4 single beds each) and 2 chaperones (one room with 2 single beds). There are 4 sinks, 4 showers, and 4 toilets in each suite. The dormitory is heated and air conditioned.
3. Do I have to bring my own bedding?
Yes, each participant must bring their own bedding and toiletries. There are single beds in each room.
4. What is the food like? Dietary restriction options?
We have a large cafeteria on campus that is set up in buffet style. There is always a variety of hot food available, as well as a salad bar and cold items. If your child has any dietary restrictions, please let us know as soon as possible. We will do our best to accommodate allergies and restrictions. Please note that our campus is NOT a peanut-free facility. We do offer peanut butter and nut products in the Dining Hall and Gift Shop. We will accommodate a nut allergy as best we can, but can not guarantee a nut-free environment. If a child has a severe allergy or dietary restriction, they will be allowed to bring their own food and store it in the Dining Hall.
5. What are meal times?
Breakfast -- 8:00am, Lunch – 12:30pm, Dinner – 5:15pm
COASTAL ECOLOGY PROGRAM
1. What will the students learn from the Field Station?
Students will have an invaluable field experience in Ecology, Biology, Marine Science, and Environmental Science. They will learn vessel safety and how to care for sampling equipment. They will learn how to live with some of their classmates, sharing space and working together. They will work with instructors who are recent college graduates and will have the opportunity to speak with them about the Science field.
2. What time should my group arrive at the Field Station?
Groups usually arrive mid-afternoon to allow time for participants to get settled in the dorms prior to starting the program.
3. How many participants constitute “one group”?
Each group has a maximum of 20 students and 3 chaperones. The group of 23 total participants is led by one Field Station staff instructor and is a good group size for field and laboratory activities.
4. What is a chaperone?
A chaperone is usually a parent, teacher, or other school staff member that accompanies the group on their field trip to the Field Station. The chaperones are expected to participate in the program, be with the students at all times, and help to maintain group control.
5. How many chaperones do I need to bring with my group?
We require at least one chaperone per suite of 12 students. For example, 18 students would require two chaperones even though it is only 1 teaching group.
6. What happens during stormy/rainy weather?
During rainy weather we will still go outside and do classes. Students should bring appropriate rain gear. During thunderstorms or severe inclement weather, we have field trips or activities to do with the students indoors. If boat trips are postponed, we will do our best to reschedule the trip during your program.
7. How old do my students have to be?
Our coastal ecology program is tailored for 6th-12th grade. We can cater our program and classes for 3rd-5th grade students. However, there may be some limitations due to their age. For example, students must be at least in 5th grade for both the research cruise and the kayaking classes. Most other classes can be altered to fit the needs of 3rd-5th grade students.
