While the students are with us at Whale Camp, is it not just the marine life that they have the opportunity to learn about. Grand Manan Island is a very diverse island with a whole host of really interesting natural history and culture, from the tide pools that are influenced by the huge water movements in the bay to the fisheries that has shaped the culture and development of the islands peoples.
The geology of the island is also unique, with many factors acting over many years to make the island what it has become and is today. Many parts of Grand Manan's historic and geologic past are retained on the island are provide excellent examples of how the island was formed and providing a glimpse of what life used to be like here.
FISHERIES ON GRAND MANAN
Fishing on Grand Manan has long been a very important part of the islands culture and development. For over 200 years, the island has been inhabited by those who relied on the oceans around the coast and in the bay for fishing. Many on the island still rely on the traditional methods of smoking herring and gathering dulse, these economic livelihoods have defined the island community for hundreds of years.
At Whale Camp we give the students a glimpse into the islands past and how this has shaped the island to this day. There are many remnants of Grand Manan's fishing history still remaining on and around the island, in the shape of herring smokehouses, fishing weirs all along the coastline, and the many boats in the docks.
The geology of the island is also unique, with many factors acting over many years to make the island what it has become and is today. Many parts of Grand Manan's historic and geologic past are retained on the island are provide excellent examples of how the island was formed and providing a glimpse of what life used to be like here.
FISHERIES ON GRAND MANAN
Fishing on Grand Manan has long been a very important part of the islands culture and development. For over 200 years, the island has been inhabited by those who relied on the oceans around the coast and in the bay for fishing. Many on the island still rely on the traditional methods of smoking herring and gathering dulse, these economic livelihoods have defined the island community for hundreds of years.
At Whale Camp we give the students a glimpse into the islands past and how this has shaped the island to this day. There are many remnants of Grand Manan's fishing history still remaining on and around the island, in the shape of herring smokehouses, fishing weirs all along the coastline, and the many boats in the docks.
One of the traditional herring weirs, located at the north end of the island. The herring weirs are a traditonal way of harvesting herring, using the natural behaviours of these fish. There are many active herring weirs still in use along the coastline of Grand Manan and New Brunswick.
Teaching the students about life in the herring industry!!!
Looking up into the old smokehouses located in Seal Cove at the south of the island
The old herring smokehouses only stopped operating in 1996
TIDEPOOLING
The tides of the Bay of Fundy are among the highest in the world, and flood into and out of the Bay every 6 hours, thus two tide cycles a day engulf the shoreline and rise up high on the cliffs of the island. On several of the islands great beaches, the tide rises enough that large areas of the beach are completely submerged for large parts of the day. This creates tidal zonation and thus gives rise a large variety of creatures utilising the different habitats and niches created by these tides.
Displaying some rather large seaweeds
Sea-star fantastic
Searching for tide critters in the pools at low tide
BOG, STREAM ECOLOGY AND FRESHWATER LESSONS
Exploring the life in one of Grand Manan's streams
Learning about the water cycle in a unique way!
Creating water-sheds and building communities on the banks of rivers!
GEOLOGY OF GRAND MANAN
Standing atop the Hole in the Wall. The Hole in the Wall is a unique natural sculpture, caused by the tides of the Bay of Fundy. The waters over time, have carved out the softer rocks from this outcrop of rocks, leaving a large hole in the rocks surrounded by harder rocks. At high tides, kayakers can paddle through, and at low tide the hole is accesible to hike down to. The hike out to the hole in the wall was one of the most popular hikes this summer, and the view of the hole and Whale Cove Bay provided a great place to stay for lunch.
An example of some of the geologic processes that help define Grand Manan is the columnar jointing that can be seen at various locations around the island
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