NOVA Overnight - NASA Flight Facility Wallops Island & Chincoteague Bay Field Station
First Weekend In May!
Saturday night camping included. Friday night just $6 extra.
Join us for the NOVA Overnight - NASA Flight Facility Wallops Island & Chincoteague Bay Field Station!
Experience science behind the scenes for education and fun!
Pay one price ($20 per person) for Saturday events at NASA Flight Facility and Chincoteague Bay Field Station and camping at Chincoteague Island KOA Saturday night (Friday night camping is available for $6 per person)
You can start at the NASA Wallops Island Visitor Center program which is available only in the morning and continue on to Chincoteague Bay Field Station or you can spend the whole day at Chincoteague Bay Field Station.
Spend the night camping at Chincoteague Island KOA Saturday night. Arrive with all of the necessary items, including tents, sleeping bags, pillow toiletries, and comfortable sleeping clothes.
PLEASE NOTE- All transportation between NASA, the KOA, the Field Station, and the Wildlife Refuge is the responsibility of the participants. All meals will be the responsibility of the participants.
Pick your program for Sunday a la carte (note the extra charge per program):
AM Programs include:
Oceanographic Research Boat Expedition (ages 9 and up) $18 per person
Venture out into the tidal creeks on one of our research vessels to collect data and creatures like professional marine scientists! Work as a research team doing water sampling, water quality tests, tidal current property measurements, and collect organisms using an otter trawl.
- Please bring hat, sunscreen, and water bottle
- Dress in layers and according to the weather ( may be colder on the water)
- Wear clothing you can get soiled/wet
- Wear sneakers or lace-up boots. Must be closed toe and closed heel. (no keens or water shoes)
- Binoculars and/or camera
- Note: Bug Spray is not allowed as you may be handling live organisms. Mosquitos aren't generally a problem once the boat leaves the dock.
Intertidal Island Exploration (all ages) $8 per person
Learn about the tides and the effect that it has on the critters that live in the Intertidal Zone. Get hands-on and up close by traveling out to Assateague Island to collect creatures using seine nets and sieve boxes!
- Please bring hat, sunscreen, and water bottle
- Bag for wet clothing
- Bathing suit-worn under clothing for changing afterward
- Towel, change of clothing and additional shoes
- Binoculars and/or camera
- Note: Bug Spray is not allowed as you will be getting into an aquatic ecosystem and handling organisms. Please wear long sleeve shirts, long pants or a bug jacket.
PM Programs Include:
Wallops Island Dunes Walk (all ages) $8 per person
Visit Wallops Island, an undeveloped barrier island owned by NASA and the Navy and restricted to the public, to learn about beach formation and dune ecology. Bring a bag to collect shells and anything else interesting that may wash ashore! MUST BE A U.S. CITIZEN OR OBTAIN PRE-APPROVAL THROUGH CBFS AND NASA 6 WEEKS IN ADVANCE.
- Please bring hat, sunscreen, water bottle
- Bug Spray
- Dress in layers and according to the weather (it may be colder on the windy beach)
- Wear shoes you are comfortable getting sandy/wet
- Bag for shells
- Binoculars and/or camera
- Bathing suit - worn under clothing for changing afterward
Maritime Forest Walk (all ages) $5 per person
Walk along a trail on Assateague Island to learn about the unique ecosystem that is the Maritime Forest. We'll keep an eye out for wildlife, like migrating birds and the rare Delmarva Fox Squirrel, as we learn how to identify the trees and other plants that make up this coastal habitat.
- Please bring hat, sunscreen, water bottle
- Bug spray or bug jacket a MUST
- Dress in layers and according to the weather
- Wear comfortable walking shoes
- Binoculars and/or camera
