GLIN==> Ohio State Stone Lab Open House a Huge Success

Ohio State Stone Lab Open House a Huge Success

 

Despite rain and wind, the work of 40 volunteers from the Friends of Stone
Lab (FOSL) and program staff enabled well over 1,000 visitors to attend the
13th Annual Stone Lab Open House on September 11. FOSL is composed of former
students, faculty, and people who love Lake Erie and environmental
education. It is also the primary support group for the Laboratory.  Since
the group was formed in 1982, among many other things, it has awarded more
than 1,000 scholarships to help students participate in the Laboratory's
summer courses.

 

After a 10-minute boat ride on one of the Laboratory's research vessels from
South Bass Island to Gibraltar Island, participants were given a guided tour
of Gibraltar Island and Stone Lab's facilities. They could also learn how to
participate in the Laboratory's 25 college courses, workshops, and special
field trips for people of all ages, from students in grades 4 - 12 to
adults. Experts from Ohio Sea Grant and FOSL were stationed in three of the
Laboratory's classrooms to address questions and provide hands-on viewing
opportunities of important issues facing Lake Erie and Ohio, including
aquatic invasive species, harmful algal blooms, endangered species, the Dead
Zone, and Asian carp. An added bonus was an interactive exhibit of
indigenous snakes and amphibians led by the Island Snake Lady, Kristin
Stanford.

 

Jeff Reutter has been working at Stone Lab since 1971 and has been the
Director of Stone Lab and Ohio Sea Grant since 1987. "I really enjoy
standing on the Gibraltar Dock and greeting all of the visitors as they
arrive, explaining what they can do while on the island, and then answering
their questions at the end of their visits as they wait on the dock for
their ride back," he said. "They are always very appreciative of the
opportunity to visit the island and learn more about Lake Erie and our
research, education, and outreach programs. They frequently tell me that we
are Ohio State's best kept secret."

 

More than 150 K-12 students learned how to tie their own walleye fishing
lures. In addition to touring the island, visitors also participated in a
tour of the  historic Cooke Castle. The public also toured the Aquatic
Visitor Center in the Historic Put-in-Bay Fish Hatchery and the Historic
South Bass Island Lighthouse. This is the only time members of the public
can tour all of the facilities, including Cooke Castle and the Lighthouse. 

 

Located on the 6.5-acre Gibraltar Island in Put-In-Bay harbor, Stone
Laboratory is The Ohio State University's Island Campus on Lake Erie and the
research, education, and outreach facility of the Ohio Sea Grant College
Program. The Ohio State University's Ohio Sea Grant program is part of NOAA
Sea Grant, a network of 32 Sea Grant programs dedicated to the protection
and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. For more
information about Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu.

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