“Survivors” field trip a new collaborative effort between Conservancy & Rookery Bay

This month the Conservancy’s education team launched a new partnership with Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve’s education team, called Survivors. This new collaboration is a field trip offered to all 7th grade students of Collier County Public School’s Cambridge program, reaching 60 students each trip. Survivors takes place at the Rookery Bay field station and aboard the Conservancy’s pontoon boat Good Fortune II. While aboard Good Fortune II, students work together to gather data on water quality and plankton populations in the estuary.

“I’ve enjoyed watching students confidence grow as they become more familiar with the scientific gear they are using on board the boat. The students begin to communicate better with their group and feel a sense of responsibility to collect accurate environmental data.” -Tonya Zadrozny, Education Programs Coordinator

The 7th graders use scientific gear to sample two sites on the water within the reserve; then spend time analyzing their findings on the boat. This month the 160 students spotted dolphin, manatee, eagles, osprey, and even jellyfish while on the boat!

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