Category: Events

Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative: 2021 Virtual Conference

Posted on by Ali Hogue
Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative presents
Net Zero 2021 | Powering Change at the Grassroots Level: Our Roadmap to a Clean Energy Future
The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative’s “Net Zero 2021 | Powering Change at the Grassroots Level: Our Roadmap to a Clean Energy Future” is set for Friday, October 29, from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. This is the Climate Collaborative’s fourth annual and second virtual conference.
The website, https://netzero21.vfairs.com/, details the agenda and activities of the day.
The NZ‐21 conference will focus on Massachusetts’ groundbreaking new state climate law — “An Act Creating a Next Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy” — which represents the most significant update to climate policy in the Commonwealth since the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act of 2008.
The virtual event convenes federal, state, regional, and local leaders, businesses, policy makers, scientists, clean energy providers, and advocates to discuss exciting new federal, state, and regional legislation and initiatives, and offer a roadmap for communities, organizations, and individuals to undertake actions to advance the journey to net zero for the Cape & Islands region and beyond.
Fran Schofield, a founding member of the Climate Collaborative’s board of directors and event co-chair, said, “We are at a critical intersection in our history where the increasing urgency of the climate crisis has converged with the emergence of exciting new energy policies and programs. This conference is for citizens, municipal leaders, planners, clean energy advocates, youth and faith community activists and virtually anyone wishing to better understand the issues and how to take action.”
Event co-chair Janet Williams added, “The remarkable generosity of  our many sponsors has enabled us to offer this event free of charge and whose support illustrates the depth and breadth of concern and sense of urgency for addressing the climate crisis.”
This multi‐faceted program has been developed to provide diverse content including live and pre‐recorded sessions, social networking opportunities, breakout Q&A sessions, and virtual tradeshow opportunities.
Learn more and register: https://netzero21.vfairs.com/
ABOUT THE CAPE COD CLIMATE CHANGE COLLABORATIVE: The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative is a consortium of environmental, energy, government, business, education, faith community, and activist organizations whose mission is to help the Cape & Islands reach carbon neutrality or “net zero” by enhancing communication, collaboration, and action among entities committed to mitigating the climate crisis. To learn more about the organization, please visit www.capecodclimate.org.
ABOUT THE CAPE COD COMMISSION: The Cape Cod Commission is the regional land use, planning, economic development, and regulatory agency for Barnstable County, Massachusetts. It was created in 1990 to serve the citizens and 15 towns that comprise Cape Cod. The Commission works toward maintaining a healthy balance between economic progress and environmental vitality. “Keeping a Special Place Special” describes the agency’s mission to protect the region’s unique qualities. The 19-member volunteer Cape Cod Commission board represents a wide spectrum of the community and provides oversight for a staff of 40 professionals. For more information, visit www.capecodcommission.org 

Solar Powered Floating Classroom to be Commissioned!

Posted on by Ali Hogue

The Friends of Pleasant Bay (FOPB) with Pleasant Bay Community Boating (PBCB) have announced a commissioning ceremony for a solar-powered floating classroom research vessel, unique to Cape Cod. The private ceremony will take place on August 25 at PBCB’s direct waterfront campus, and is primarily an event to thank supporters of the project.

The floating classroom research vessel (FCRV), named “Friend of Pleasant Bay,” is a 37’ long, 12’ wide, solar-powered electric-motor pontoon vessel that can accommodate up to 29 passengers and two crew. It can also accommodate 10 wheelchairs at reduced capacity. Solar panels on the vessel’s roof deliver power to the electric motors. The shallow draft of the FCRV will help students and scientists to access remote areas of the Bay and the near-silent electric motors will allow quiet approach to seals, birds and other wildlife that live on PleasantBay.

Although a very few floating classroom research vessels exist on Cape Cod, a solar-powered floating research classroom vessel is a first.

The idea for a FCRV was spawned at a meeting in 2017 among representatives from FOPB, PBCB, Center for Coastal Studies and Chatham Marconi Maritime Center. Taking the lead, FOPB researched floating classrooms, settled on a builder — American Pontoon in Manning, SC — and raised the funds to build the FCRV. The vessel was designed, with input from all its originators, specifically to meet the demands of education and research.

Important early decisions were that the FCRV would be gifted to PBCB and that three to five years of maintenance costs would be included. PBCB has the facilities –- dock, water access, mooring – and experience with marine education programs and enrollment. Further decisions involved collaboration among the Monomoy and Nauset school systems, Lighthouse Charter School, Cape Cod Regional Technical School, Chatham Marconi Maritime Center and Center for Coastal Studies to ensure that use of the FCRV would be strictly educational and research-related.

FOPB has also already made education grants to schools in Brewster, Chatham, Harwich and Orleans for over 32 floating classroom trips in the 2018-19 school year.

Ted Baylis, PBCB’s President, noted “We are indebted to FOPB for their enormous contribution. The FCRV is a game-changer for everyone, but especially for PBCB. The “Friend of Pleasant Bay” will make it possible for us to expand our marine education and environmental stewardship programs. She’ll enable us to do shoulder-season school programs as well as support off-season research by Center for Coastal Studies and others.”

He added, “Pleasant Bay is a precious asset. You’d be surprised by how many Cape Cod kids have never been out on the water. In their lifetimes, they will be facing issues of ever-rising seas and they need to be familiar with these coastal zone processes so they can make the best possible decisions for their communities.”

The FCRV will serve as a dedicated research vessel for scientists, an educational platform for Cape Cod children, locals and visitors to the Cape and will be available to other organizations that are seeking a unique learning experience on Pleasant Bay.

FIRST SAIL 2018

Posted on by Ali Hogue
Our signature First Sail program has wrapped up its fourth year. Often called the “best field trip ever”, more than 300 local kids from the Monomoy and Nauset School Districts participated in the exciting introduction to sailing on Pleasant Bay. For many, it truly was their “first sail”! 
These students had the opportunity to engage with the marine environment of Pleasant Bay and experience the thrill of sailing. We hope many of these first sailors return to our campus during the season and eventually become PBCB members, instructors, and of course, stewards of the Bay. Thanks to the Friends of Pleasant Bay for their generous grant that makes this program possible.

 

Birding Around Pleasant Bay

Posted on by Ali Hogue

Saturday, March 25
9:00 AM -11:00 AM

Join Pleasant Bay Community Boating in association with the Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (MAS) staff for an opportunity to explore some of the best birding spots on the bay!
The largest estuary on Cape Cod, Pleasant Bay is a biologically diverse and productive marine habitat, and an excellent place for birding year-round. Sea ducks and other waterfowl can be seen in large numbers on the open waters and protected inlets of the bay. Additional excursions will be offered periodically throughout the year and announced through this newsletter and our website.

Itinerary
9:00-9:30 AM: Meet at PBCB parking lot
9:30-10:15 AM: Carpool to Jack Knife Cove
10:15-11 AM: Carpool to Scatteree/Allen Point Landing
11:00 AM: Return to PBCB to retrieve vehicles

Cost
MAS and PBCB Members: $7 (contact info@pbcb.cc if you are not already a PBCB member)
MAS and PBCB Member Children 16 and under: Free/Non-members: $14
Non-member Children 16 and under: $5.
Questions? Contact Abby at info@pbcb.cc.

“A Plastic Ocean” at the Orpheum, sponsored by PBCB

Posted on by Ali Hogue

SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, March 4, 2017
10:00AM* – 12:30PM
Orpheum Theater
637 Main Street, Chatham

Adults – $18
Youth (11 and under) – $10

Pleasant Bay Community Boating is pleased to announce the premiere Cape Cod screening of the film A Plastic Ocean at the Orpheum Theater in Chatham.
A Plastic Ocean is a new feature-length adventure documentary that reveals the consequences of our global disposable lifestyle. We thought we could use plastic once and throw it away with negligible impact to humans and animals. That turns out to be untrue.
In A Plastic Ocean, an international team of adventurers, researchers, and ocean ambassadors go on a mission around the globe to uncover the shocking truth about what is truly lurking beneath the surface of our seemingly pristine ocean.
After the film, a panel of scientists and other experts will lead a discussion and question-and-answer period with the audience.

We recommend that you purchase tickets early to ensure a seat.

All proceeds to benefit Pleasant Bay Community Boating.

Click here to view trailer.

Purchase Tickets Here.