Saturday, Apr 18, 2026
On April 18, this place‑based experience transformed the nearshore waters off Florida’s coast into a living classroom, where teachers joined researchers from Inwater Research Group aboard a chartered vessel to observe data collection on threatened and endangered species.
The day began aboard a research vessel on the beautiful Jupiter Intracoastal, where teachers experienced sea turtle conservation in action. Participants observed real-world data collection methods used by researchers and had the unique opportunity to meet three native Florida sea turtles up close. This immersive field experience provided educators with authentic insight into marine science and conservation efforts happening right here in our coastal communities.
In the afternoon, educators reconvened at the Florida Atlantic University Stiles-Nicholson Brain Institute to transform their on-the-water learning into classroom-ready instruction. Teachers explored the “turtle trunk” program—free educational resources designed to bring authentic research experiences directly to students and spark curiosity about environmental science.
All workshop learning was aligned with Florida’s Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for Science, equipping teachers with meaningful, standards-based strategies to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.