The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor is offering its Junior Ambassadors a hands-on learning experience with an upcoming event on oyster farming. The event is scheduled for August 11 and will provide local students with a unique opportunity to learn about the important role oysters play in the marine ecosystem and get involved in the Coalition’s ongoing conservation efforts.

Launched in August 2023, the Junior Ambassadors Program is designed to engage young people in environmental stewardship. According to Lisa Cashman, deputy director of the coalition, this event will be the first time that program participants will be introduced to oyster farming, a key initiative of the coalition to restore and maintain the health of Hempstead Harbor.

“This gives younger children the opportunity to get a taste of oyster farming and see it from a different perspective,” Cashman said. “This is the ambassadors’ first direct introduction to oyster farming.”

The event takes place at the coalition’s oyster farming site in North Hempstead, where students participate in a series of activities that reflect the work of the coalition’s volunteer oyster farmers. Participants have the opportunity to clean the oyster cages, observe the diverse marine life that gathers in the cages, and measure and document the growth of the oysters. Although this session is more of a demonstration than a typical maintenance day, students still get hands-on experience.

“We want to give students a real sense of what our volunteers do,” said Sarah Stromski, environmental officer for the coalition. “They will pull cages out of the water, look at the oysters up close and learn how these mollusks contribute to the health of Hempstead Harbor.”

Oyster farming is a cornerstone of the coalition’s conservation efforts because it provides a variety of ecological benefits. Adult oysters can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, removing harmful substances such as nitrogen, bacteria and algae, helping to improve water quality. In addition, oyster reefs provide important habitats for other marine species, promoting biodiversity and improving the resilience of the harbor’s ecosystem.

“Our Junior Ambassadors will not only learn about these benefits, but they will also see the oysters in their natural habitat,” Cashman added. “This event is all about fostering an understanding of environmental conservation and helping students understand the positive impact they can have on their community.”

The Coalition to Save Hempstead Harbor has been running its oyster farming program for three years, hoping that once the oysters reach maturity, they will help repopulate the harbor. It typically takes oysters two to four years to reach sexual maturity, then they begin spawning and help grow the local oyster population. Stromski says the program has had promising results so far, with divers reporting healthy oyster growth in the harbor.

The upcoming event is open to all students registered as Junior Ambassadors, and the coalition encourages others interested in environmental protection to consider participating in the program.

“We hope this inspires more young people to get involved,” Cashman said. “It’s not time-consuming, but it has a big impact on the health of Hempstead Harbor.”

Parents of participants are advised to prepare their children for the day’s activities by ensuring they wear closed shoes and bring sunscreen, hats, insect repellent and plenty of drinking water.

“Be prepared to get dirty,” Cashman advised. “It’s not a clean project, but it’s definitely rewarding.”

For more information about participating in the Junior Ambassadors Program or the work of the Coalition, visit their website at CoalitionToSaveHempsteadHarbor.org or follow them on social media.