For the past ten years, our kindergarten and fourth grade students have had the incredible opportunity to participate in the Limulus Program in collaboration with Sacred Heart University. Each spring our young scientists meet Sacred Heart University students at Southport Beach, for an unforgettable hands-on learning experience centered around one of nature’s oldest most fascinating creatures, the horseshoe crab.

During the beach visit students learn to identify horseshoe crabs, examine their anatomy, and observe their behaviors. We helped tag the crabs for future research. If a horseshoe crab gets flipped onto its back, it can use its long tail not for defense but as a lever to flip itself over. Their blood is crucial for medical research and vaccine safety. We also learned horseshoe crabs are more closely related to spiders and scorpions than crabs!

This program offers more than just science education. It fosters curiosity, environmental awareness and respect for living creatures. We are grateful for our continued partnership with Sacred Heart University and look forward to many more years of exploration and discovery.