What Community Programs and Events Does the Bayshore Center Offer?

The Bayshore Center at Bivalve runs education-based community programs and events year-round, plus land- and water-based field trips for youth. Its calendar includes recurring events such as 2nd Fridays, and you can view the full schedule and purchase event tickets through the Center's website. This guide is for anyone deciding whether to attend an event or arrange a youth field trip.

Types of Programs and Events

The Center describes its offerings in two broad categories:

• Community programs and events — education-based events held at the Bayshore Center, connecting youth and adults to the Bayshore community and environment. The Center notes its calendar is "packed year round."
• Field trips for youth — both land-based and water-based, offered as part of the Center's education programming.

A named recurring event is 2nd Fridays, listed on the site alongside a link to purchase event tickets.

Where Events Take Place

Community events and programs are held in the historic 1904 oyster shipping sheds and on the wharves along the Maurice River, a National Wild & Scenic River that feeds into the Delaware Bay. The site notes this is where schooners loaded with oysters once docked with their day's catch — so the setting itself is part of the experience.

The A. J. Meerwald as a Program Venue

The Center's sailing vessel, the 1928 oyster schooner A. J. Meerwald, is described as a "floating classroom" used to transport youth and adults "back in time while investigating the natural environment of our rivers, bays and oceans." It is New Jersey's official tall ship.

For sails specifically:

• Sails last approximately 2 hours and include education programming for youth and adults.
• The ship travels to many ports throughout New Jersey each year, so the departure location varies.
• A 2026 Port Schedule is published on the site.
• Tickets are sold as 2026 Sail Tickets, separate from 2026 Event Tickets.

How to Find the Full Schedule and Get Tickets

The site points to a community program and events calendar for the complete listing, with a "View All" option. Tickets are split into two purchase paths:

The Delaware Bay Museum as a Related Stop

If your visit overlaps with museum hours, the Delaware Bay Museum is located in the same historic Oyster Shipping Sheds and covers the history and culture of the Bayshore region, including the oyster industry and workforce from the 1920s. It holds original artifacts, oral histories, hands-on activities, and a gift shop.

Published hours:

• May–October: Thursday 4–8 pm, Saturday 12–5 pm, Sunday 12–5 pm
• Special events and programs through May 2026
• June–September 26: open from 11 AM (the excerpt cuts off at this point, so confirm the closing time directly)

The site notes other events and trips are scheduled independently and advises calling for information.

Practical Notes Before You Go

• Check the calendar first. Because the Meerwald travels to different New Jersey ports, the sail departure point is not fixed — confirm the port for your date before buying.
• Sail and event tickets are separate. Don't assume one ticket covers both.
• Museum hours change by season. The May–October schedule differs from the June–September 26 schedule, and the museum is open for special events and programs through May 2026.
• For field trips, the site describes youth land and water field trips but does not publish booking steps in the excerpt — call the Center to arrange one.