provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Throughout January, Sanibel Sea School educators offered after school beachcombing from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. each Tuesday. This session was designed to be a hands-on, after-school activity to get outside and explore nature.
Students used their powers of observation to compare and contrast shorelines on the bay and Gulf sides of the island. “On our way to the beach we honed our observation skills by playing games to notice less conspicuous things in nature.” said Marine Science Educator Brianna Machuga. “Then my students were able to notice subtle differences in the shorelines, such as larger shells on the Gulf side of the island.”
The after school beachcombing class also incorporated ocean art into the session. Students embarked on a scavenger hunt to find items that would later be turned into a mobile. “Through beachcombing, students not only made new discoveries, but learned how to identify their finds using a field guide and then got to express their creativity,” said Machuga.
In another session, students used items they found to create ornate sand sculptures. They used natural materials, such as shells, algae, coconuts, and other items from the wrack line to decorate their ocean-themed sand sculptures.
Through these sessions and activities, students became more aware of the different beach treasures that wash ashore and learned the biology behind each item.
Sanibel Sea School’s next offering in the after school line up is surfing. Students will learn to paddle a surf board, learn how to turn, and even gain confidence to pop up on the surfboard. Learn more about Sanibel Sea School’s after school programs on their website.
Part of the SCCF (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) Family, Sanibel Sea School’s mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time.
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