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Friends
Supported Programs » Cape Lookout Studies Program
Cape
Lookout Studies Program
Visit
the Cape Lookout Studies Program Website
 In 1990, Cape Lookout National Seashore and the NC Maritime Museum entered a cooperative agreement enabling the NC Maritime Museum to lead overnight field trips based out of the former US Coast Guard Station at Cape Lookout on South Core Banks.
Keith
Rittmaster, Cape
Lookout Studies Program Coordinator, had a vision of using the abandoned
building as a field station for the Cape Lookout Studies Program
(CLSP). Keith has designed the program to encourage groups and
individuals to learn about our marine environment by offering an
opportunity to experience a pristine barrier island. The diverse
groups that visit the field station on any given weekend include
girl scouts, photography students, scientists and corporate
boards. A trip to the Cape is a restorative adventure. Turtles,
rays, sharks and wild ponies - not to mentioned drop dead
gorgeous beaches - are all part of the fare. It’s easy to see
why this program is a favorite of our members.
The Cape Lookout Studies Program is offered through a collaborative effort involving the NC Maritime Museum, Friends of the Museum, and Cape Lookout National Seashore.
Each organization contributes what it can in support through
funds, manpower, equipment, etc. to keep the field station
running. There are many opportunities for participating in the
CLSP. Groups can spend an overnight to indulge in their own
activity such as astronomy, kayaking and photography. Or they
can participate by helping to collect data on dolphin sightings
or to respond to stranded marine animals or even to help freshly
hatched baby turtles get safely across the beach to the ocean.
Keith
Rittmaster is one of those rare individuals that combines heart
and soul with science. Because the CLSP runs on a shoestring
budget, the volunteers who contribute their money and time
really do make a difference.
1.
Dolphin Project
Since
1985, the CLSP has been tracking the dolphin population
in our area. They do this by photographing the dorsal fins of
bottlenose dolphins to identify individuals by the scars and
notches that they acquire - a process called
photo-identification. Using this method enables the staff to
study their movement patterns, associations and birth rates. The
program has been able to track the movements of individual
dolphins as far back as 1985. The needs of this program include
money to pay for outboard engines, boat/vehicle maintenance,
photo and darkroom supplies, computers, cell phone and fuel.
Check
out the
digital
fin-matching activity program.
2.
The Field Station
The most
pressing need associated with the field station is manpower. The
very capable and faithful volunteers who assist in getting
groups (along with gear and food) out to the cape often have to
make four trips in a weekend. The field station must be cleaned
and provisioned to prepare for a group’s arrival and then
cleaned after they depart. Transportation to and from the cape
is by boat only and can take over an hour one way. Volunteers
are not always available resulting in all of the details
involved in facilitating a successful adventure to the Cape a
one person job. Contributions to hire help for a weekend when
volunteers are not available are much appreciated treasures.
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