PRIVATE EVENT: Marine Research Class Series w/ The GROW Co-Op
PRIVATE EVENT: Marine Research Class Series w/ The GROW Co-Op
SECULAR EVENT
KEY POINTS
Meets once per month on Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 11:30 AM at Boynton Beach Inlet Park in Boynton Beach from September 2025 to May 2026.
This session will be taught by Christa Jewett.
Each class includes a discussion on the monthly topic followed by various field and research activities.
There will be a monthly reading assignment from the Florida’s Living Beaches field guide by Blair & Dawn Witherington that must be completed prior to each class. Students must obtain a copy of the 2nd Edition of this field guide to complete their homework assignments. Available on Amazon.
Students will also be provided with a field journal that they will use during the class’s field activities. Students must bring both the Florida’s Living Beaches field guide and their field journal with them to each class.
Target age is 8 to 12 years
Maximum class size is 15 students
This is a secular class that will focus exclusively on biological information.
Parents must accompany and supervise their children during class as a safety precaution.
All children attending the class must be registered students. Siblings of any age, including infants, littles or older siblings, may not accompany registered students.
Cost: $550 per student. This cost includes instruction, sampling equipment, class materials and a field journal for each student. (Please note that it does not include the cost of the Florida’s Living Beaches Field Guide.)
Registration Deadline: July 31, 2025
The quantity indicated should reflect the number of students participating in this event. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Names of parents or guardians should be included in the registration form that appears once you select “Add to Cart”.
OVERVIEW
Saltwater Studies is excited to offer this research-based marine science program for elementary school students that reviews ecological factors that influence life in a sandy beach ecosystem. Students will meet for class once per month at the beach to learn about the sandy beach ecosystem. For each class, students will be provided with an overview of the monthly topic followed by various learning, field and research activities.
SCHEDULE
This is a tentative schedule. Topics and activities may change based on current weather and wave conditions on the day of the class.
Thursday, September 4, 2025 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Introduction to Sandy Beaches – Students will be provided with an overview of the sandy beach environment that incorporates a review of the scientific method. The day’s activity will include recording observations about the sandy beach ecosystem in the field journals.
Thursday, October 9, 2025 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Waves – Students will learn about different types of waves. The day’s activity will include learning how to identify three different wave shapes, determine wave period and direction and measure wave height.
Thursday, October 30, 2025 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Tides – Students will learn about ocean tides. The day’s activity will include performing a tide determination and recording observations about ecological zones created by tide elevations.
Thursday, December 4, 2025 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Currents – Students will learn about global ocean currents including surface and deep ocean circulation patterns as well as local ocean currents such as tidal and rip currents. The day’s activity will include a learning activity on liquid densities and how to estimate current speed.
Thursday, January 15, 2026 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Beach Erosion – Students will learn about beach erosion and its impact on the sandy beach environment. The day’s activity will include performing a surveying activity that will allow the students to create a profile of the sandy beach.
Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Marine Life – Students will learn about the marine life commonly seen in a sandy beach environment. The day’s activity will include learning how to complete a qualitative biological assessment that answers the question: What types of plants and animals live in this environment?
Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Marine Life – Students will learn about marine life commonly seen in a sandy beach environment. The day’s activity will include learning how to complete a quantitative biological assessment that answers the question: How many plants and animals inhabit this environment?
Thursday, April 16, 2026 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Environmental Health – Students will learn about water quality as an indicator of environmental health. The day’s activity will include water quality sampling and analyzing seawater for different parameters such as temperature, turbidity, pH and dissolved oxygen.
Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 9:30 – 11:30 AM
Beach Erosion – Students will perform a second surveying activity and compare their results with those recorded as a part of the first surveying activity. They will then determine if the beach is gaining or losing sand and estimate the amount of sand lost or gained over the past several months.
Cancellation Policy
Class Series or Courses. If unexpected circumstances require you to cancel your registration, a refund will be provided for cancellations made until one week prior to the first class. (The refund will be for the full amount paid less the service fee charged by PayPal or Stripe for the transaction as these fees are non-refundable.) A 50% refund will be provided for cancellations made within one week prior to the first class and for students who drop out within 14 days of the first class. No refunds will be provided for students who drop out after 14 days from the first class. For class series or courses that are scheduled for less than 14 class days, a 50% refund will be provided for cancellations made from one week prior to the first class until the first class. No refunds will be provided for students who drop out after the first class. Once the class series or course begins, make up classes or credits are not offered for students who miss classes for any reason. In the event that unforeseen circumstances such as inclement weather, illness, park closure or water use restrictions etc. require Saltwater Studies to cancel a class, the class will be rescheduled, if possible. If you are not able to attend the rescheduled class, you will be issued a credit that can be applied to a future Saltwater Studies event. In order to be eligible to receive this credit you must notify Saltwater Studies of your inability to attend the rescheduled event at least one week prior to the rescheduled class date.
View the full policy here.