We planned our first co-op field trip for September, but Hurricane Helene hit, so we rescheduled. We planned to go in October, but Hurricane Milton hit, so we rescheduled again. However, the third time was the charm, and we had a fantastic trip with Tampa Bay Watch beginning of November. They offer a number of field trips, but with our kids running in age from Pre-K to 10th grade, we opted for the boat based field trip "All About the Bay."
Tampa Bay Watch is a local non-profit organization that uses community based programs and educational outreach to keep the Tampa Bay watershed healthy. They have done a number of clean-up efforts and restorative projects since their founding in 1993. Their educational outreach includes classes, field trips, and summer camps, but also two educational centers: Tampa Bay Watch Marine Education Center in Tierra Verde and Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center on the St. Pete Pier.
To begin our day, we boarded the pontoon boat. Where Dakoeta, our tour guide, told us all about Tampa Bay, our estuary. He shared about the salinity of the water, which we got to test. He told us about the importance of sandbars and sea grass beds. We learned that the Bay on average is only 3 feet deep, though it is 12 feet deep where it has been dredged. We saw a shark, two manatees, and several dolphins. If we had managed a sea turtle it would have been the Grand Slam of the Bay. It was a great day to be out on the water. The best part of the day was getting to view their "catch." Part of their work involves monitoring the life in the bay for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Therefore when they travel out into the bay one of the things they do is go to certain charted sea grass beds and use a special cast net to bring in all the sea creatures that they can rustle up out of the grasses. They then log the type and number of creatures, along with water temperature, salinity, position, currents, and time. Due to manatee activity we had to cut the first catch short and we got to enjoy a second pull. Dakoeta then told us about the items that we caught and their role in the ecosystem. Before finishing up our boat tour we circled Bird Island, which is one of many tiny islands full of mangroves which filter our water and provide homes for a huge variety of waterfowl.
After arriving back to shore and giving our thanks, we all agreed it was the best field trip we've done as a co-op since we began doing field trips a year or so ago. We then walked down the pier to the Discovery Center. Inside there were a variety of reptiles, amphibians, and fish to observe and learn about. The biggest hit though was the touch and feel tank. Inside there is a rotating cast of creatures. They have starfish, crabs, and others that the kids could touch and ask questions about. The ladies working the area were incredibly knowledgeable. After spending some time there we wrapped up the day with a picnic lunch at the playground there on the pier. All the kids had a ball, playing and learning together. It was a great day for it, as it was warm but we had a good breeze.
My bunch would love to go again next year, some of the others felt the same way, so perhaps we might do another field trip with them. If you'd like to make a trip the address to the Discovery Center is 700 2nd Ave NE, St. Petersburg, Florida, and their phone number is 727-291-4103. Field trips also leave out from the Marine Education Center at 3000 Pinellas Bayway South, Tierra Verde, Florida, and their phone number is 727-867-8166. Field trips have a flat rate regardless of the number of children who attend ranging from $100 to $500. We highly recommend them.
Comments