Delaware Seashore State Park has two different ways to explore, experience, and enjoy the Inland Bays this summer. Every Thursday, there are two pontoon boat trips that travel from the Indian River Marina through the waters of Indian River Bay. One’s interactive; one’s idyllic.

The morning trip is the Estuarine Ecology Tour. While almost every boat tour offered anywhere these days talks about ecology, this trip is a little different. It’s a hands-on experience in which you participate in basic scientific research. Participants help collect and analyze water samples taken from several locations in the bay. Using both old and state-of-the-art equipment, the samples are tested for salinity, turgidity (that’s a measure of murkiness for those who aren’t crossword fans), oxygen levels, and nutrients. It’s kind of fun to us semi-Luddites to see that the two types of equipment are usually pretty close in their numbers, especially when the new gizmos are super-pricey.

You pick up some interesting factoids, like the depth of the Indian River, Rehoboth, and Assawoman Bays is generally only about 5 feet. If the pontoon boat sinks, put on your life jacket, jump overboard, and walk to shore. A touch tank stocked with saltwater denizens gave everyone a chance to check out co-inhabitants of Delmarva’s water. The most popular was the she-crab who was heavily laden with a bright orange sponge of eggs. We placed her almost reverently back into the water with encouragement for her to live long and prosper.

The afternoon trip is pure enjoyment. It’s a leisurely cruise along the coastline, checking out the wildlife and landmarks and learning about past and present human history and human impact on the Bays. Keep your camera handy, because you’ll certainly see osprey, Great Blue Herons, and shore birds. And there’s plenty of time to sit in the sunshine and wave at the boaters who’ve dropped anchor in what they hope are prime fishing spots.

The trips are offered every Thursday through Labor Day, The Estuarine Trip leaves at 10 AM from the Indian River Marina in the good ship “Sand Dollar.” It’s a two hour trip and costs $20 per person. The afternoon pleasure cruise leaves the marina at 1PM for a 90-minute tour. The cost is $18. The “Sand Dollar” has limited seating, so reservations are strongly recommended. Call 302-227-6991 for more information and to make reservations.