Group Programs
Seagrass Beds
St. Andrews and Choctawhatchee Bays offer a variety of habitats to explore — seagrass beds, oyster reefs, living shorelines and hard bottom communities.
Location
St. Andrews State Park & Tyndall Air Force Base – Outdoor Rec Area
Grade Level
Elementary, Middle and High School
Group Sizes
Schools: minimum 15, maximum 65 students per field trip day. Larger groups should book multiple days. Residents & visitors: contact us for a custom trip.
Please Note
This trip is currently designed to be completed from shore.
What the adventure covers
This adventure explores the seagrass beds of St. Andrews Bay and focuses on sampling, identification and Q&A.
Activities that can be chosen include water quality; sampling and identification of marine life; identifying and discussing exotic and nuisance species; looking for larger marine mammals, reptiles and fish; examining locations where living shorelines have been installed and comparing them to areas without; a detailed look at the biology and behaviour of sea scallops; a closer look at the critters that live on the habitat (epiphytes); trying your hand at fishing in the habitats to see who lives there; dissection of a squid or octopus; and looking for and discussing plastic and other pollution impacts in the habitat and the implications for the larger ecosystem.
The focus is for participants to be able to describe the major physical, biological and ecological features of each habitat visited during the field trip, and to discuss their own solutions to human impacts. The discussion and salient points taught are based on the grade level of the class.
Activity stations
All activities are aligned to Florida state standards. Depending on group size, students rotate through 4–5 of the following stations.
Seagrass activity descriptions
A full list of potential activities and the Florida Standard associated with each one.
Field sites
Seagrass adventures take place along St. Andrews Bay, with additional habitats available across the wider bay systems of the Panhandle.
St. Andrews Bay
St. Andrews State Park and the Tyndall AFB Outdoor Rec Area, with shoreline access to seagrass beds, oyster reefs and living shorelines.
Choctawhatchee Bay
The wider bay system that shapes the region's habitats — used to compare conditions and species across the Panhandle.
Seagrass Bed Field Trip
A look at the habitat and critters students meet in the bay. Click any image to enlarge.
How to Book
Choose your field adventure, pick your date on the calendar, and register online. You can also call 850-508-7306 Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM to 5 PM to have your questions answered and book your trip.
Student costs will be covered by grants and donations, but we will need a firm headcount for each trip. For Field Adventures for the Community (residents and visitors), donations will be required to cover the costs of staff and equipment use and to support E&FCA's efforts during the school year. The costs will be calculated on a per person basis during booking.
Your donations help science teachers hone their skills during the summer by leading adventures and bring more kids into the field during the school year. We much appreciate your contributions!
