Sanibel Sea School forges new outreach partnership
The Sanibel Sea School recently expanded its outreach and scholarship programs, providing local youth with the chance to learn about and love an ocean they might not get to experience.
As part of a new partnership with Child Care of Southwest Florida, it is working with the Voluntary Prekindergarten children and kindergarteners through third-graders at the Joseph H. Messina Children’s Center in Fort Myers. Every two weeks, educators visit the classes or take the students on field trips.
“The Sanibel Sea School engages with students that we call ‘landlocked’ kids,” Nicole Finnicum, director of education at the organization, said. “Essentially, we’re bringing the ocean to them.”
Since March, the educators have been visiting the classes for about an hour each time. They plan topic-based programs that combine education with fun, like dissecting a dogfish or learning about squid.
“They’re young kids, so they like hands-on activities,” she said of the VPK youth.
Charlotte Cadow, marine science educator for the Sanibel Sea School, explained that for the dogfish lesson she brought sandpaper so the children could compare it to the feel of the animal’s skin.
About 20 VPK students participate in each of the two classroom programs at the center each month. The school-aged children – about 25 – get one classroom program and one field trip per month.
For a recent outing, the students headed to the Sanibel Causeway with seine nets.
Cadow explained that they were learning about seahorses and pipefish.
“We used the seine nets to catch seahorses, but we caught mostly fish,” she said, adding that the specimens are placed in a nearby aquarium for a discussion, before being returned to the sea.
Another trip may take them to Bunche Beach to explore the soft intertidal.
“There are tons of creatures to be found there,” Cadow said.
She expressed that it is about cultivating passion in the youth for the ocean.
“They are so uncontrollably excited, especially when you get them outside,” Cadow said, noting that even the shy ones come out of their shells. “They just bubble up into these enthusiastic creatures.”
Finnicum emphasized that helping children, who may never have an opportunity to experience the ocean, form memories and a bond with the environment can shape their lives and future experiences.
“With the ultimate goal of having them fall in love with the ocean,” she said.
And, in turn, build in them a desire to protect and preserve it.
After the more scientific programming, the educators will focus on encouraging creativity.
“Typically, we’ll transition then into an art-based activity,” Cadow said.
It can range from clay work and painting, to paper tissue projects.
According to Finnicum, the new partnership will be a school year-long endeavor. Child Care of Southwest Florida has several centers, and the Sanibel Sea School hopes to expand into each one.
The new effort adds to a list of partnerships that it has formed to achieve its mission.
“Our mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time,” she said.
For more information about the Sanibel Sea School, visit www.sanibelseaschool.org.