The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s SURVIVORS field trip offers a hands-on learning experience for 7th-grade Collier County Public School students to explore the coastal environment of Southwest Florida.
The program is designed to engage students in the process of science and incorporates critical thinking, high-level questioning, and scientific techniques. Students investigate the impacts of survivorship and have close encounters with estuary residents. The Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve provides an amazing world for students to discover within its 110,000 acres of pristine mangrove forest, uplands, and protected waters.
The collaboration between Rookery Bay Research Reserve and the Conservancy of Southwest Florida enables more students to experience the estuary than ever before. The program allows for up to 60 students per visit and direct access to estuarine waters via our Good Fortune II pontoon boat. A visit to the Reserve empowers students to think critically about our region’s water concerns, the value of ecosystem services, and ways they can connect to our coastal resources.
Overall, the SURVIVORS field trip is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about the coastal environment of Southwest Florida and engage with the process of science.