Students will work with nationally recognized fossil expert Dr. Ashley Oliphant, the author of "Shark Tooth Hunting on the Carolina Coast," as they embark on this unusual engaged learning experience. This course will use classroom instruction and field trips to local beaches to teach participants about shark tooth hunting on the Grand Strand. Course content will include shark tooth identification by species as well as tips for which beaches to search, how to search them, and how to know when conditions are best for fossil collecting. Students will also learn about the different species of seashells that can be found in South Carolina and how to maximize chances of finding them. The class will incorporate discussion about how to be a responsible beachcomber, with units about the use of red lights for turtle nesting areas and the importance of harvesting only unoccupied shells or expired sea life.
IMPORTANT NOTES: The first meeting will take place at the Coastal Science Center with the remaining classes taking place at various beaches. Each beach combing session will be combined with another of Dr. Oliphant’s classes to offer extended time (2 hours and 45 minutes) at the beach. Students will be responsible for their own transportation and parking fees for the field trips, and some driving will be involved to make sure students have the best opportunity to shell in prime locations. The course may also include some variable meeting times to make sure the tides are favorable for hunting.
Dr. Oliphant will do her best to schedule additional field trips in case students miss a class due to the changing meeting times. The best way to improve your shelling game is to interact with a really experienced sheller on the beach. You do not want to miss this unique course.
