Outreach initiative provides experiential education
Local students focused on the environment had the opportunity to take a cruise, see a variety of marine life up close and visit Cayo Costa State Park though the Environmental Education Outreach Project.
Also known as the No Child Left On Shore initiative, Captiva Cruises and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation hosted an environmental science class, environmental club, a sustainability club and honors students from Florida SouthWestern State College for the field trip on Nov. 12.
The program was started in 2010 by Finkel and past Captiva Cruises owner Paul McCarthy as a collaboration with the SCCF. It strives to provide experiential education opportunities for Southwest Florida youth who may not have firsthand exposure to coastal environments by any other means.
“Our goal is to provide a hands-on learning program that fills a vital need to provide the children or younger generation of Southwest Florida with an informative and fun way to gain experiential knowledge of the ecology of our marine environment,” Finkel, an educator for Captiva Cruises, said.
“The enriching initiative allows local youth to form a deeper connection to their coastal surroundings and to spark their curiosity,” he added.
Finkel noted that the excursions typically involve younger children.
“But we get some high school kids and some college kids once in a while,” he said.
A group of 35 participated in the field trip, including some teachers.
Departing from McCarthy’s Marina on Captiva, Finkel and Sanibel Sea School marine science educators Dana Donkle and Joey Garofano talked about the cultural history of the area, the ecology of the back bay estuary and the barrier islands. The Sanibel Sea School is part of the SCCF family.
“Dolphins were observed along the way,” he said. “White pelicans.”
Upon arriving at Cayo Costa, the mangroves along the bayside of the island were discussed and students had the chance to explore the beach shoreline. They measured the salinity of the water and talked about turbidity, as well as the ecology of the seagrass beds and area’s water quality issues.
“Educators discussed the life found along the shoreline,” Finkel said.
They observed sea urchins, coquina clams, mole crabs, sand dollars and tunicates.
“Many of the students do not have this kind of opportunity to explore the beach habitat and also took advantage of their time by getting their feet wet, wading in the shallow waters and collecting shells,” he said.
On the way back, Finkel got out the trawling net.
“They loved it,” he said. “A variety of fish were closely observed, then released back to the water.”
He cited flounder, pinfish, spiny burrfish, mojarra and triggerfish.
The Environmental Education Outreach Project is funded by donations raised by the SCCF, with Captiva Cruises providing reduced rates. Interested donors can earmark funds for the program.
For more information or to support the initiative, call Captiva Cruises at 239-472-5300.