Metro Beach Metropark
(Lake St. Clair)
Presented by
Michigan Sea Grant and
Michigan State University Extension
in partnership with Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority
with support from:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Science Foundation
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
MI DNR
DTE Energy
|
|
| Metro Beach Metropark, Lake St. Clair Cruise Themes |
 |
Aliens Among Us
When the French explorers first encountered the Great Lakes, they described a garden of earthly delights. Now, almost four centuries later, we are faced with lamprey, zebra mussels, silver carp, gobies, Phragmites, and purple loosestrife – alien invaders intent on changing the way we recreate and work in the Great Lakes. This cruise will explore the alien species among us, their impacts on the Great Lakes ecosystem, and what and we can do to minimize their impact and spread.
See: Schedule |
 |
Night Watch
Join the crew of the E/V Clinton on a late evening cruise and learn about navigating under the stars using charts, lights and the heavens themselves. Our cruise will take us through the history of navigation from the discovery of latitude and longitude to today's Loran and GPS systems. As darkness descends, we will set sail for lighthouses and search the heavens for constellations and the North Star to help guide us to our home port.
See: Schedule |
 |
Handy Billy
Join us on this one-of-a-kind cruise! Handy Billy is a group of folks who love our Great Lakes and its related music. Handy Billy’s founder, Captain Allen Wolfe, is joined by Christine Crissman, Andy Spence, and Captain Gary Longton. Their songs have much to teach about shipboard life and the Great Lakes themselves. Sing alongs and group participation are heartily encouraged. The cruise forecast? A fair chance of nautical, musical mayhem. See you aboard!
See: Schedule |
 |
Journey Through the Straits II
Park your car at Sinbads in Detroit and board the E/V Clinton for a fantastic five hour voyage from the upper reaches of the Detroit River to Lake Erie. As the Clinton travels in the wake of both the early Great Lakes voyageurs and present day sailors, we'll explore the Straits of Detroit from several perspectives. Our cruise begins just south of Peche Isle, the first island in the straits and the site of Chief Pontiac's summer camp. We will pass by the old French ribbon farms, Cadillac's landing, the Detroit Riverwalk and then under the Ambassador Bridge. Then we pass the J.W. Westcott mailboat and the old Bob-lo boats on the way to the industrial heartland featuring impressive steel mills. Finally we enter the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, with its beautiful islands and abundant wildlife. We take a shuttle bus back to Sinbads where you pick up your car to complete your Journey Through the Straits!
See: Schedule |
 |
Shipping Out
Sign on for a voyage into the world of Great Lakes shipping with former sailor and ancient mariner Patrick Livingston, author of the Library of Michigan award winning Eight Steamboats-Sailing Through the Sixties, As the E/V Clinton heads across Lake St. Clair toward the shipping channel, you will learn about lakers and salties, legendary sailors and Lake St. Clair shipwrecks. With some luck, you might even get up close and personal to a thousand-footer or two along the way. Wear your Old Spice!
See: Schedule |
 |
Wind, Waves & Weather
The Great Lakes influence our weather, and the weather can have a great influence on the Great Lakes (ever hear of the Great Storm of 1913?). Join NOAA National Weather Service meteorologists on a cruise that explores the “why?” behind the wind, waves, and weather around us. Learn how to be safe the next time weather threatens, what some of the old sailor sayings like "Red sky at night, sailor's delight" really mean, why we don't have hurricanes in the Great Lakes, what kind of wave a "seiche" is, and much more! We ship out rain or shine!
See: Schedule |
 |
The Nature of Lake St. Clair
Take an educational tour of Lake St. Clair to discover the rich variety of aquatic life that makes Lake St. Clair so special. Plants, animals, and habitats - including the world’s largest fresh water delta - will be explored.
See: Schedule |
| |
Shipwrecks
See how the latest technology in shipwreck
identification is used to discover wrecks as we investigate the remains of a
sunken mystery ship in Lake St. Clair. Along the way we'll explore historic
shipwrecks and the lighthouses built to help prevent them. Bring along your
diving bell as we delve into the realm of underwater archaeology.
See: Schedule
|
| |
Great Lakes Science for Teachers
This cruise for teachers – teachers only please – will focus on the Great Lakes from a science education perspective. Learn how to relate biology, chemistry, geology and physics to the Great Lakes that define Michigan. This “research cruise” is designed to help you share the Great Lakes with your K-12 students. Also find out about opportunities for additional professional development which come with participant stipends and/or scholarships.
See: Schedule
|
|
Wildlife & Wetlands of Lake St. Clair
Explore further into the Flats in this extended 4-hour tour to discover the variety of plants, animals and habitats that make the world’s largest fresh water delta so unique and valuable. This cruise has an additional cost of $5 per participant.
See: Schedule |
 |
Lighthouses of Lake St. Clair
Join a representative from the Save Our South Channel Lights organization to learn the history of the two lighthouses built on Lake St. Clair in 1855 to guide vessels through the treacherous St. Clair Flats. Learn about navigating the Great Lakes then and now and discover what is being done to preserve these historic landmarks.
See: Schedule |
 |
Lake St. Clair Fisheries
This is not a fishing cruise, but it definitely is a "fishy" cruise! Learn first hand about the fish that are found in Lake St. Clair, many of which are available for hands-on examination. We will be joined by a Michigan DNR Fisheries Biologist and rendezvous with their research vessel while out on the lake to observe fish tagging, measuring and other research operations.
See: Schedule |
 |
The History of Lake St. Clair
We cruise Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair Flats in search of the geologic past of the St. Clair River Delta and tell the human stories that shaped the history of this unique area.
See: Schedule |
|
|
|
