It is 115 feet of seaworthy, ecological information. A cruise on the A.J.Meerwald, an oak, bald-headed (that means it has no masts) retired oyster schooner, takes you into the Delaware Bay, where you’ll learn about its natural, historic and cultural resources. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as you sail along on this vessel, you have the option of being a sailor for a day, helping the crew hoist the sails, trawl for fish, sample plankton and perform water quality tests to check the health of the Bay.

With programs for individuals, schools and other groups, the A.J. Meerwald focuses on creating activities that inspire visitors to value and preserve the environment and become familiar with the culture of the Bayshore Region. There are summer camps for kids, overnight family camps, boat races and opportunities to charter the ship for special occasions. The theme sails held throughout the year are always hot tickets – Mother’s Day sails, Oyster sails, Halloween Pirate sails, as well as a variety of other fun and ecologically-friendly events.

If you are a landlubber, you can learn more about the Bay’s heritage, culture and ecology at the monthly lecture series. Check out the Bayshore Discovery Project’s museum with exhibits that focus on shipbuilding, natural resources and, of course, the region’s oyster industry.