Barrier Island Patch Program
Oceanography Merit Badge

The Tybee Island Marine Science Center offers a Coastal Empire Council BSA Barrier Island Patch Program and Oceanography Merit Badge Program for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Webelos, and Boy Scouts. Visit the science center, work toward your patch or badge, and discover the diversity of life that inhabits the Georgia coast!

The Barrier Island Patch Program is a two hour hands-on program that includes a guided beach walk to identify shells, crabs, sea worms, soft corals, the wrack line, ghost crab burrows, and learn about tides, how sand dunes are formed, and the importance of the beach and marsh ecosystems.  A center tour and touch tank presentation focuses on live marine animals that inhabit our waters, and a sand sifting activity in the intertidal zone will reveal small creatures that form the base of the food chain. Scouts will pull a 15 foot seine net in the surf (with the help of adults) to catch and observe local fish, crabs, and other marine life.

The Oceanography Merit Badge is a two hour program taught in the classroom, on the beach, and from the pier that includes using oceanographic equipment such as Secchi disks to measure visibility, sounding weights to measure depth, a hydrometer and refractometer to measure salinity, and thermometers to measure the water and air temperatures. Inside the TIMSC classroom, scouts will learn information focusing on the four main areas of oceanography in order to complete some of the merit badge requirements.

Program Reservations

Programs are offered year-round and prices may vary. For more information, contact Tamika Hodge
Phone: (912) 786-5917
Email: thodge@tybeemsc.org

August 1, 2007-July 31, 2008

(Price & deposit are based upon number of
TIMSC instructors needed; there is no per person rate)

 For weekday programs occurring from 9:30-11:30 am, 12:00-2:00 pm, or 2:30-4:30 pm

           1 TIMSC Instructor is needed for up to 22 students and adults = $140

                (up to 5 extra adults at $7 per person)
                ($50 non-refundable deposit that is included in total price)

        2 TIMSC Instructors are needed for up to 44 students and adults = $280

                (up to 5 extra adults at $7 per person)
                ($100 non-refundable deposit that is included in total price)

        3 TIMSC Instructors are needed for up to 66 students and adults = $420

                (up to 5 extra adults at $7 per person)
                ($150 non-refundable deposit that is included in total price)

For weekend programs occurring from 12:00-2:00 pm or 2:30-4:30 pm

        1 TIMSC Instructor is needed for up to 22 students and adults = $180

                (up to 5 extra adults at $9 per person)
                ($50 non-refundable deposit that is included in total price)              

Please Note:

*        A TIMSC booking agent will contact you 2 weeks prior to your trip to finalize numbers of your group.  Please know that these numbers will dictate the final balance to be paid upon or prior to your arrival at the center.

*        Deposits are non-refundable and necessary to permanently reserve your program.

*        Prices and deposits are based on the number of TIMSC instructors needed- there is no per person rate.

*        All prices include tax.

*        No deposits are refunded.