By ELSIE WALKER
Contributing Writer
ROCKAWAY — When Jennifer Crumrine comes into a classroom, she brings a part of
the sea with her. Crumrine runs Seacritters, a mobile marine biology program which
allows children to see sea creatures up close. The program is usually done in private
schools, camps, or preschools for children pre-K up to 8th grade in the New Jersey area.
It is a small group program that literally provides a hands-on experience.
Jennifer Crumrine earned a bachelor of science in Marine Biology from the University of
Tampa in 1992. She did several internships while in Florida.“Kevin has a degree in
computer science, and is employed full time in the computer field. He also has been an
avid saltwater aquarist for the last 20 years. Our skills compliment each other perfectly,”
said Jennifer Crumrine.
The Crumrines returned to New Jersey and about two years ago started Seacritters.
“We were looking for change in our lives. We wanted to bring together our interest of
Marine life and our love of kids,” said Jennifer Crumrine.
Currently a part time endeavor, Jennifer Crumrine travels to the locations and gives the
presentations. Kevin Crumrine supports the mobile education project by doing time-
consuming background work such as caring for the aquariums where the seacritters are
kept and feeding the critters, which is done by hand.
For each program, the seacritters are transported in coolers to the site and then after
water is pumped into a tank, take their place in it. Besides giving children an up close
view of a Clown Fish, Hermit Crab, Sea Star or other creatures, Crumrine shares some
interesting facts about them and tries to make her young audience more aware of the
ecosystem.
“I really do hope to instill a message of conservation and wonder,” she said.
She noted that when she brings her program to a class, a favorite is the Clownfish (think
Finding Nemo.)
Though he is not one of the critters that can be touched, he draws a lot of attention. So
does the Starfish or Sea Star. This invertebrate sea life has an interesting way of eating.
Its stomach actually goes out its mouth, surrounds the food, and then goes back into the
mouth and returns into place. There’s also the Sea Urchin that’s related to the Seastar.
Like a porcupine, it has spires all over its body which act as a natural defense.
When she talks about the ecosystem and how creatures in nature depend on each other,
Crumrine talks about the Horseshoe Crabs. The crab eggs are an important source of
food for migrating birds who stop off in New Jersey and Delaware to “refuel.”
She notes that the Horseshoe Crab helps man as well, through its use in
pharmaceutical and medical device testing. (An extract of the crab's blood is used to
detect bacteria in human blood, in intravenous drugs, and even in prosthetics such as
heart valves prior to implantation.)
“Their blood is drawn without hurting them,” Crumrine noted. “All IV drugs are tested with
their blood,” she said.
Seashells By The Shore
“Peek in the shell and see if anyone is home,” is what Crumrine tells her audience that it
should do if it finds a shell at the seashore. There may be a critter inside. If there is,
however, you should leave the shell where it is.
What if you find a landed seacritter? “You always should carefully put it back,” she said.
Also, she noted that if you find a Horseshoe Crab on its back, it will need to be righted.
However, don’t do that by grabbing its tail (also known as a “telson”). It’s not a dangerous
or poisonous creature. Turn it over by grabbing its back, the top of its big shell.
What about the seacritters you can purchase? Does Crumrine have any advice for the
person who wants to have an aquarium with some seacritters at home?
“You must be committed,” she said. A lot of work goes into the care of such creatures,
getting them can’t be just a passing notion. “It's not like bringing home a Goldfish,” she
said. You’ll need to have a big tank set up first with salt water and ready for your
seacritter. Then, there’s the on-going maintenance. That tank will need to be cleaned
regularly and its temperature checked. Also, the critters will need to be fed by hand.
Though the Clownfish is cute to look at, Crumrine doesn’t recommend it to start with. “It’s
definitely an undertaking,” she said about caring for that creature.
Damsels, a small fish, are what Crumrine characterizes as “really good starter fish.”
For more information on Crumrine’s Seacritter Mobile Education Program, visit http:
//www.seacritters.org.
First published Nov. 19, 2005 in The Animal Companion.
Contributing Writer
ROCKAWAY — When Jennifer Crumrine comes into a classroom, she brings a part of
the sea with her. Crumrine runs Seacritters, a mobile marine biology program which
allows children to see sea creatures up close. The program is usually done in private
schools, camps, or preschools for children pre-K up to 8th grade in the New Jersey area.
It is a small group program that literally provides a hands-on experience.
Jennifer Crumrine earned a bachelor of science in Marine Biology from the University of
Tampa in 1992. She did several internships while in Florida.“Kevin has a degree in
computer science, and is employed full time in the computer field. He also has been an
avid saltwater aquarist for the last 20 years. Our skills compliment each other perfectly,”
said Jennifer Crumrine.
The Crumrines returned to New Jersey and about two years ago started Seacritters.
“We were looking for change in our lives. We wanted to bring together our interest of
Marine life and our love of kids,” said Jennifer Crumrine.
Currently a part time endeavor, Jennifer Crumrine travels to the locations and gives the
presentations. Kevin Crumrine supports the mobile education project by doing time-
consuming background work such as caring for the aquariums where the seacritters are
kept and feeding the critters, which is done by hand.
For each program, the seacritters are transported in coolers to the site and then after
water is pumped into a tank, take their place in it. Besides giving children an up close
view of a Clown Fish, Hermit Crab, Sea Star or other creatures, Crumrine shares some
interesting facts about them and tries to make her young audience more aware of the
ecosystem.
“I really do hope to instill a message of conservation and wonder,” she said.
She noted that when she brings her program to a class, a favorite is the Clownfish (think
Finding Nemo.)
Though he is not one of the critters that can be touched, he draws a lot of attention. So
does the Starfish or Sea Star. This invertebrate sea life has an interesting way of eating.
Its stomach actually goes out its mouth, surrounds the food, and then goes back into the
mouth and returns into place. There’s also the Sea Urchin that’s related to the Seastar.
Like a porcupine, it has spires all over its body which act as a natural defense.
When she talks about the ecosystem and how creatures in nature depend on each other,
Crumrine talks about the Horseshoe Crabs. The crab eggs are an important source of
food for migrating birds who stop off in New Jersey and Delaware to “refuel.”
She notes that the Horseshoe Crab helps man as well, through its use in
pharmaceutical and medical device testing. (An extract of the crab's blood is used to
detect bacteria in human blood, in intravenous drugs, and even in prosthetics such as
heart valves prior to implantation.)
“Their blood is drawn without hurting them,” Crumrine noted. “All IV drugs are tested with
their blood,” she said.
Seashells By The Shore
“Peek in the shell and see if anyone is home,” is what Crumrine tells her audience that it
should do if it finds a shell at the seashore. There may be a critter inside. If there is,
however, you should leave the shell where it is.
What if you find a landed seacritter? “You always should carefully put it back,” she said.
Also, she noted that if you find a Horseshoe Crab on its back, it will need to be righted.
However, don’t do that by grabbing its tail (also known as a “telson”). It’s not a dangerous
or poisonous creature. Turn it over by grabbing its back, the top of its big shell.
What about the seacritters you can purchase? Does Crumrine have any advice for the
person who wants to have an aquarium with some seacritters at home?
“You must be committed,” she said. A lot of work goes into the care of such creatures,
getting them can’t be just a passing notion. “It's not like bringing home a Goldfish,” she
said. You’ll need to have a big tank set up first with salt water and ready for your
seacritter. Then, there’s the on-going maintenance. That tank will need to be cleaned
regularly and its temperature checked. Also, the critters will need to be fed by hand.
Though the Clownfish is cute to look at, Crumrine doesn’t recommend it to start with. “It’s
definitely an undertaking,” she said about caring for that creature.
Damsels, a small fish, are what Crumrine characterizes as “really good starter fish.”
For more information on Crumrine’s Seacritter Mobile Education Program, visit http:
//www.seacritters.org.
First published Nov. 19, 2005 in The Animal Companion.
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“Every child gets to touch something,”
said Crumrine.
Originally from New Jersey, Crumrine and
her husband, Kevin, lived from 1989 to
1996 in Florida on a sailboat. “We would
go to the beach to see seacritters,” she
said. The Crumrines volunteered for
projects associated with Marine Biology
and their interest in sea life continued to
grow.
said Crumrine.
Originally from New Jersey, Crumrine and
her husband, Kevin, lived from 1989 to
1996 in Florida on a sailboat. “We would
go to the beach to see seacritters,” she
said. The Crumrines volunteered for
projects associated with Marine Biology
and their interest in sea life continued to
grow.