Day 1 – Arrival and Activities

Introduction

Visit the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center

Students will tour this facility and learn about threatened and endangered sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico. The vision is Conservation and protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles through community education programs and partnered research” Leaders at the center will educate students about TED devices, threats to turtles, and turtle migration patterns.

Dinner

Check-in to dorms

Evening sea turtle walk
Students will walk with a turtle naturalist at night and look for nesting sites. Once sites are discovered,the team will help with protecting the nest by posting tape and “do not cross” signs.

Day 2 – Sea Turtles, Volunteer, Night Wade

Breakfast

Sea Grass/ Sea Turtle Research Program
In an effort to help with the Sea Turtle Conservancy program, students will help with collecting data. Size, sex and location will be analyzed. This information will then be sent to the nature conservancy in Gainesville Florida. Later the group will snorkel in the sea grasses analyzing species that live in the sea turtles feeding grounds.

Lunch

Volunteer at the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance – Restore Sea Turtle Feeding Habitats
Help with ongoing restoration and research in the Choctawhatchee Bay. Students will help restore sea grasses and oyster reefs. These are the primary feeding grounds for sea turtles.

Dinner

Coastal Marsh Night Wade
Go on a night wade in the evening and do net pulls to study nocturnal organisms.

 Day 3 – Kayak, Biophilia Center and Bon Fire

Breakfast

Coastal marsh critter study
In order to determine heath of sea grasses, students must understand the nutrient flows that feed the bay. Along with research scientists from the Biophilia, students will learn about the marsh areas, estuaries and habitats that directly impact sea grass habitats.

Lunch

Food Energy – Plankton Lab – The Food Chain and Microplastics
Plankton include microscopic plant and animal organisms that float or drift in great numbers in the
ocean. Plankton are the start of most oceanic food chains. There are many species of plankton and
each has a characteristic shape. Plankton may be phytoplankton (plant-like organisms – producers) or
zooplankton (animal-like organisms – consumers). We will also study micro plastics and their affect of
predators including sea turtles.

Dinner

Day 4 – Critter Study and Journey Home

Breakfast

Ocean Trash Art Project
Leaders and interns wash items so they are safe for the public to handle. We then work with students to put together art and sculptures in our marine science lab. These projects will then be displayed around town and encourage the preservation of our ocean and the protection of our sea turtles.

Time to travel home and share your stories!

Itinerary subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control including availability with vendors, weather conditions and flight schedules.