Floating Classroom with MDCPS STArts2 Teachers

On September 23, 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society hosted a floating classroom with 14 2nd grade educators from Miami Dade County Public Schools and the STArts2 Program. We started out day by meeting our teachers for the day at the docks of FIU’s Biscayne Bay campus, where after a quick introduction we hopped aboard DISCOVERY Vessel River Queen. Despite some shaky weather early on in the day, we managed to spot two separate groups of dolphins in the Bay who gave our teachers a memorable start to their lesson. We then began our interactive discussions on coastal ecology of South Florida, the history of South Florida’s watershed, and pollution dynamics as we made our way towards Sandspur Island. Our teachers also were able to test the water quality of the Bay using our handy Earth Echo Kits. Our team was stunned to find some of the highest dissolved oxygen levels we have ever recorded, a great omen to start our 2025 school year! To conclude our day, we conducted a short cleanup at Sandspur Island, successfully removing 23 pounds of trash from one of the Bay’s most popular picnic islands. We give a huge thank you to the teachers and organizers of STArts, and to our captains of DISCOVERY Vessel River Queen for a great day on the water, and we hope to work with these teachers and their students again very soon.