Daphne Tucker's Expedition New England

Join Daphne Tucker's Expedition New England
in her quest to protect Long Island Sound!

Become a sponsor of his 2010 JR. OCEANOGRAPHER PROGRAM that will involve thousands of elementary school age children from around the State of Connecticut and engage them into action with a passion to protect and respect Long Island Sound.

Sponsors will receive television acknowledgement in the award winning documentary series "Scott Tucker's Expedition New England" that reaches over 3 million cable subscribers every week "around the world"

Below are three areas we are
trying to raise money for,
that you can help support:

Diamondback Terrapin Package
$10,000- Essay contest & Public School Presentations
Daphne invites Connecticut youngsters to send in their essay ideas
of what they would do to protect Long Island Sound and why.
Then she and Scott tour several elementary schools for a presentation and award ceremony for essay writing winners.

Pilot Whale Package
$10,000- Junior Oceanographer tool kits. During the school presentations to essay writing winners, recipients also get a Junior Oceanographer kit they will use at one of the big event they and their parents will attend abourd an ocean explorer vessel (see story below on the last Junior Ocanographer program).

Sand Shark Package
$10,000- Junior Oceanographer DVD Adventures TV program.
A final special program will be produced for television distributed
across Connecticut.

Help us lead the next generation of sound environmental education

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JUNIOR OCEANOGRAPHER NEWS

Junior Oceanographers Search for Seals Aboard EnviroLab III

Riding The Waves And Searching For Seals
By Christopher Weingart
New London Day
March 2009

HADDAM -- Westerly winds drove rolling swells down Fishers Island Sound yesterday, giving a bumpy, chilly ride to anyone out on the water. But for 10 Expedition New England Junior Oceanographers trying to spot seals on the EnviroLab III, it couldn't have been a finer day.

”It is awesome out here!” beamed Daphne Tucker, 8, of Higganum, as the deck rolled under her feet. Daphne's dad, Scott, is at least as excited about Connecticut's coastal waters as his daughter. He organized the seal-watching trip as part of his educational outreach project “Expedition New England,” which encourages people to explore the natural world in their own local areas. ”I grew up in New England, but I didn't appreciate all the wildlife because everyone always talked about Costa Rica, Australia or Africa. We have some of the coolest wildlife in the world right in our own backyards. I try to help people see that.”

For the past four years, Tucker has hosted, produced, and filmed his own public-access television show to do just that. Together with his wife, Ava, son Race, 2, and Daphne, he invites viewers to come along as he encounters salamanders, turtles, ants, and toads. When he turned his focus seaward, though, a unique collaboration arose. ”We try to develop as many educational opportunities as possible,” said Kate Hughes Brown of the Department of Environmental Protection. “We try to get kids asking their own questions early so that they are more engaged. Scott gets right into the activities with them.”

Brown is the Coordinator for the Long Island Sound Fund, which distributes money raised by the sale of “Preserve the Sound” license plates. This is the second grant that Tucker has received from the Fund. With the first, he produced “More Than A Sound, A Symphony Of Life,” which was given out to every sixth-grade science teacher in the state. Now he's working on a project for younger kids around Daphne's age. The Junior Oceanographer program gives 100 third- and fourth-graders from schools around the state the chance to learn about coastal resources from UConn marine scientists, take part in beach cleanups and start investigating the water for themselves.

Selected through an essay contest on the topic “What would you do to protect the Sound?” each of the students received a starter marine-sciences kit with a digital thermometer, tide charts, test tubes, and a compass. But the ten students who wrote the very best essays got a special opportunity. ”I see them!” “Ooo! Me too!” Voices lifted and parents and children craned to see. ”We are approaching West Clump, and you can see harbor seals sunning themselves on the rocks. Remember to take good data, junior oceanographers,” said Megan Barker, an instructor for Project Oceanology.

The ocean-science education nonprofit, based at UConn's Avery Point campus, hosts school groups year round. It operates the research vessels EnviroLab II and EnviroLab III, on which students get to see marine life and take measurements close-up. ”This is our first seal watch of 2009, and we are really fortunate to have such a great day,” Barker said. As students filled in their data sheets and kept a lookout, Scott Tucker raced from shot to shot, filming the kids, the seals and the instructors. The footage will become part of his next film, which will be distributed for educational use, just like “More Than A Sound.” Three of the 10 Junior Oceanographer essay finalists will be featured it.

After an hour of steaming east down the sound, EnviroLab III turned into the wind and headed for Avery Point. Back in the cabin, Tucker handed out oceanographer kits and read from the winning essays. ”Tommy Knowles from the Jefferson School In Norwalk. This is great! He writes, 'Long Island Sound is an ecosystem of brackish water, a mixture of saltwater and freshwater.'” Tucker grinned with pride. ”How many third- and fourth-graders know that?”


On Oct. 11th Daphne and Scott met kids and their parents at Madison's Hammonasset State Park's Nature Center-- Daphne told the kids "10 Things They Can Do To Help Protect The Long Island Sound" -- Scott showed the kids some plastic garbage that would have wound up in the Long Island Sound


On Oct. 4th Daphne and Scott met kids and their parents at SoundWaters at Cove Island Park in Stamford, -- Scott and UCONN Oceanographer, Charlie Yarish made a presentation on what can be found in and around Long Island Sound -- then, Scott led an impromptu nature walk and discovered a horseshoe crab.

If you or your organization would like to sponsor the
2010 Junior Oceanographer program please contact Scott @ 203-641-8543