SECULAR EVENT
Total Cost: $1050 per student
Dates: Fridays, September 2024 - May 2025
Time: 10 AM - 2:30 PM
Location: Varies
Target Age Group: Middle School
Maximum Size: 12 students
The Field Course fee includes:
Instruction by a professional marine biologist
Materials
Supplies
Student curriculum (electronic format)
Entry fees for all parks, aquariums, and educational centers
Peanut Island shuttle fee
Kayak rental
The Field Course fee does not include the fee for optional events including shelling tour with Treasure Seeker Shell Tours.
This Field Course will provide a hands-on overview of various marine species present in South Florida. The intent of this course is to provide detailed information about local marine life and an opportunity to interact with our local marine environment.
The Field Course will meet eight (8) times, once per month, during the 2024-2025 school year. Students will also be able to participate in an optional field excursion to view wild dolphins in their natural habitat and a shelling tour in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Students will have a monthly homework assignment to complete prior to each field day that will include topical reading, graphics, videos, and review questions.
Each field day will include both a lecture focused on discussing the homework material as well as hands-on activities pertaining to the subject matter.
Daily Schedule:
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM Lecture & Lesson
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Lunch
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM Hands-On Activities
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SCHEDULE
1 | Jellies
Friday, Sept. 27, 2024; 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
@Dubois Park, Jupiter
This event includes a wading tour of the mangrove area where we will view jelly species commonly seen in the area including upside-down jellies and comb jellies. Students will be provided with nets and buckets to collect marine life.
2 | Corals
Friday, Oct. 25, 2024; 11:30 AM - 4:00 PM (Time adjusted to reflect tide schedule.)
@Peanut Island Park, Riviera Beach
This event includes a snorkel in the shallow waters of Peanut Island where we will view a coral restoration project monitored by The Reef Institute.*
3 | Sponges
Friday, Nov. 15, 2024; 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
@Boynton Beach Inlet Park, Boynton Beach
This event includes learning how to conduct a qualitative and quantitative assessment of marine life, techniques commonly employed by marine biologists in studying coral reef environments. Students will be provided with transect lines, quadrats and field guides to use in completing their assessment.
4 | Sea Slugs
Friday, Dec. 13, 2024; 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Mizell-Johnson State Park, Dania Beach
This event includes a kayak tour of Whiskey Creek where we will search for marine life including sea slugs often seen in the area.
5 | Manatees
Friday, Jan. 24, 2025; 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Manatee Lagoon, Riviera Beach
This event includes a tour of Manatee Lagoon and its education center. Students will learn how to complete a biological assessment of manatee behavior, a technique commonly used in marine mammal rehabilitation.
6 | Sharks
Friday, Feb. 21, 2025; 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center, Stuart
This event includes a shark tooth laboratory where students will learn to identify different species of sharks based on the shape of their teeth as well as a tour of the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center facilities which are home to an octopus, seahorses, nurse sharks, stingrays and numerous reef fish.
7 | Sea Turtles
Friday, Mar. 21, 2025; 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Loggerhead Park, Juno Beach
This event includes a tour of Loggerhead Marinelife Center where students will learn about various sea turtles being rehabilitated at the facility.
8 | Dolphins
Friday, Apr. 18, 2025; 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach
This event includes a snorkel in a Marine Preserve at Phil Foster Park, Riviera Beach where a variety of marine life can be spotted.*
*Snorkeling activities are based on tide and weather conditions. Conditions will be evaluated the week of the proposed activity to confirm that the class may proceed as planned. All students will be required to wear a snorkel vest provided by Saltwater Studies during snorkeling events.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
Wild Dolphin Viewing & Shelling in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Treasure Seekers Shell Tours, Goodland, Marco Island
Students will enjoy a 4-hour boat ride and shelling tour with Treasure Seekers Shell Tours. This area is known for its pod of resident dolphins. Students will complete an assessment of dolphin behavior during the boat ride and then search for seashells along the coastlines of islands in the Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge.
Estimated Date: May 2025
Cost: To be determined. Registered students and their families will be provided with cost information in January 2025.
DETAILS
Materials:
Students will need their own snorkeling equipment, shelling bag, notebook and writing utensil as well as drinks, snacks and lunch.
Liability Waiver:
Each student must have a liability waiver completed by his or her parent or guardian to participate in the Field Course.
Instruction:
All instruction and activities will be led by Christa Jewett who has both a B.S. and M.S. in marine biology as well as over 20 years of experience in the marine science field and 18 years of experience in education. Saltwater Studies’ biblically-based events include a discussion on both biological information as well as how we can see the character of God in Creation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to stay with my student?
No. Saltwater Studies’ middle and high school field courses are drop-off programs. You are welcome to stay for the field course if you would like but it is not required.
Can either I or siblings attend with my registered student?
Only registered students may attend the Field Course. A parent may attend the Field Course along with his or her registered student. If a parent elects to participate in the day’s hands-on activities (snorkeling, wading tour, aquarium tour etc.), he or she must pay any associated entrance fees charged by the location. A parent with unregistered children is welcome to enjoy the location’s amenities while registered students are in class. However, unregistered siblings may not participate in class activities.
What if I need to cancel? Will I receive a refund?
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 (less non-refundable merchant service fees). A 50% refund will be provided for cancellations made within one week prior to the first class. No refunds will be provided for students who drop out after the first class.
Will my student receive a grade for the Field Course?
Saltwater Studies will be discussing homework assignments with the students during class time but will not be grading them. Parents are welcome to assign their student a grade based on their student’s completion of the homework assignments.