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2800 High Street
Port Norris, NJ 08349
P: (856) 785-2060
F: (856) 785-2893
Meghan Wren
mwren@bayshore
discoveryproject.org
The A.J. Meerwald
Bayshore Discovery Project
The Bayshore Discovery Project (BDP) is a not-for-profit organization, established in 1988; dedicated to increasing awareness, appreciation, and stewardship of the natural, cultural, and historic resources of the Delaware Bay and New Jersey's coastal waters. BDP's mission is to motivate people to take care of the history, the culture and the environment of New Jersey's bayshore region through education, preservation and example. They operate the authentically restored 1928 oyster schooner, A.J. Meerwald- New Jersey's Official Tall Ship, the Delaware Bay Folklife Center and the Bay Days folklife festival.
Cultural Education aboard the Ship
Celebrating its 14th sailing season on the highly acclaimed educational platform, A.J. Meerwald; BDP works through three educational venues- shipboard; shore-based; and outreach programs. Besides havig the opportunity to learn teamwork by becoming "Sailors-for-a-day," children are able to walk through the wetlands and participate in other stewardship lessons. Entwined throughout all programming venues, is the concept of leading "by example" - conspicuously displaying practices designed to "tread lightly on the earth." BDP is also currently working on the restoration of the historic 1904 Bivalve Shipping Sheds & Wharves which, upon completion, will serve as a vibrant maritime community center and a portal of discovery for the Delaware Bay.
For more information about educational programming with Bayshore Discovery, contact Shannon Ball, sball@bayshorediscoveryproject.org.
Group Tours aboard the Ship
The Meerwald provides an intense, highly successful learning environment to school groups; and, this is just as true when the general public is the target audience. On weekends and throughout the summer months, the Meerwald is a premier, mobile tourism property. She travels from port to port along New Jersey's coasts delivering a heritage and ecotourism experience, soft adventure and family educational outing to throusands of passengers each year.
For more information about scheduling a group tour with the Bayshore Discovery Project, contact Diane Stephenson, dstephenson@bayshorediscoveryproject.org.