SECULAR EVENT

QUICK LOOK

• Meets once per month on Thursday mornings from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM 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 30-minute discussion on five to seven species that can be seen in a local marine ecosystem followed by an hour of exploration including water and beach activities

• Target age is 5 to 12 years

• Maximum class size is 12 students

• This class will be taught focusing 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: $400 per student

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Saltwater Studies is excited to offer this adventure-based marine science program for elementary school students that covers marine life commonly seen in Florida’s marine waters. Students will meet for class once per month at the beach to learn about local marine life. For each class, students will be provided with a thirty-minute overview of five to seven local marine species followed by an hour of exploration including water and beach 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 18, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about the rocky intertidal ecosystem. Species discussed will include crabs, snails and seaweed. The day’s activity will include a wading tour where students will search an artificial rocky shore environment for marine life.

Thursday, October 23, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about marine life that can be found in nearshore marine environments such as a coral reef. Species discussed will include sharks, fish, octopuses and rays. The day’s activity includes a snorkel tour in the shallow waters near the park.

Thursday, November 13, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about various animals that inhabit the footers of the fishing pier at Boynton Beach Inlet. Species discussed will include crabs, birds and fish. The day’s activity will include using nets and buckets to collect various marine life on the pier’s footers.

Thursday, December 18, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about the wide variety of unique species that can be spotted along Boynton Beach. Species discussed will include seahorses, nautiluses, snails and sea slugs. The day’s activity will include searching for marine life along the sea shore north of the inlet.

Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about animals that live in the swash zone of a sandy beach environment. Species discussed will include crabs and shorebirds. The day’s activity will include using sand sifters to search for crabs and shells.

Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about species that can be found in the wrack line of a sandy beach environment. Species discussed will focus on the wide variety of sea beans that can be found along Florida’s coastlines.

Thursday, March 26, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about marine life that live in sargassum weed. Species discussed will include sargassum weed, worms, crabs, fish, shrimp and sea slugs. The day’s activity will include using nets and buckets to search for marine life in seaweed that has washed ashore.

Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about marine megafauna that can be spotted in Florida’s coastal waters. Species discussed will include sea turtles, manatees, rays, jellies and sharks.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about various fish that can be found in nearshore marine environments such as a coral reef. The day’s activity includes a snorkel tour in the shallow waters near the park.

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.