Each year, in September, the Rutgers University Marine Field Station (RUMFS) opens its doors to the public and permits visitors to enter and learn about the research station which is part of the university’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences. The open house is presented in cooperation with the Jacques Cousteau National Estuary Research Reserve program.

The university’s research station occupies the old Little Egg Coast Guard Station located on the waters of Barnegat Bay, off the southern tip of Long Beach Island.

On Saturday, September 12, 2009, Flotilla 72 members set up shop at the old Coast Guard Station. Through out the day, members coped with wind and occasional rain showers to meet the visiting public, dispense safe boating information, provide material on boating education classes and vessel safety checks; and generally inform the public about the Auxiliary and its vast array of missions.

Invitations, by Rutgers, to “outside” organizations are rare, but members of the flotilla and Division 7 had established a reputation of reliability and professionalism while working on several local environmentally related projects with the sponsoring organizations.

Based on that reputation, Flotilla 72 was asked to take part for the first time, last year. The flotilla, along with its programs and presentations, were a success with event visitors. Organizers of the event asked Flotilla 72 to take part again this year; and again the public found the Auxiliary a major source of useful information and material.

Estimates indicate that approximately 200 people visited the event, despite the inclement weather.