SECULAR EVENT
QUICK LOOK
Meets once per month on Tuesday mornings from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM at Mizell-Johnson State Park in Dania 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.
Tuesday, September 16, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about epifaunal organisms that inhabit the mangrove forest environment. Species discussed will include mangroves, oysters, barnacles, sponges and tunicates. The day’s activity will include a wading tour of Whiskey Creek.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about flora and fauna in a coastal hammock, a broad-leaved forest that grows on stabilized sand dunes along the coast. Species discussed will include sea grapes, butterflies, and reptiles. The day’s activity will include a trail hike through a coastal hammock.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about various invertebrate animals that inhabit a mangrove forest environment. Species discussed will include crabs, snails, and conchs. The day’s activity will include a wading tour of Whiskey Creek.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Students will learn about infaunal organisms that inhabit the mangrove forest environment such as lugworms, snapping shrimp, fiddler crabs, spaghetti worms and cross-barred venus clams. The day’s activity will include a wading tour of Whiskey Creek.
Tuesday, January 13, 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.
Tuesday, February 17, 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.
Tuesday, March 10, 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.
Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 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 searching an artificial rocky shore environment for marine life.
Tuesday, May 5, 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.