Junior SeaKeepers 24-25 Everglades Slough Slog Field Experience
Homestead, Florida
February 1, 2025
Overview
On Saturday, February 1, 2025, The International SeaKeepers Society's Education and Outreach team hosted 13 of our 25 Junior SeaKeepers from the 24-25 cohort for a field experience exploring the beautiful Everglades National Park with the help of the Education team from the Everglades National Park Service.
Our walk through the cypress forest, known as a "Slough Slog," began with a quick orientation at Ernest F. Coe Visitors Center in Everglades National Park from our trip leader, Colby. In our opening talk, we discussed how to maintain safe footing in the cypress forest, as well as what signs to look out for that would point us toward native species like the American Alligator, the Everglades Crawfish, and even coastal birds like the Anhinga. After a short drive from the visitors center to the slough site, our Junior SeaKeepers waded into knee-deep, crystal-clear water amongst some of South Florida's most unique habitats. During our hour-long slough slog, we were lucky enough to see species like the Great Egret, two American Alligators, and even a small catfish swimming amongst the cypress knees. Throughout the experience, our guide, Colby, was able to share information with us regarding endangered Everglades species, how the flow of water supports our other coastal ecosystems, and even give us insight into native plants often used by indigenous people for food and medicine. By the end of our trip, all 13 of our students were able to leave Everglades National Park with a newfound appreciation for this one-of-a-kind ecosystem.
By attending field outings and floating classrooms, Junior SeaKeepers can take lessons they are learning from webinars, workshops, and cleanups and apply them directly to the local natural environment. In this bonus experience, we hope students were able to better understand how unique habitats are often vital for preserving biodiversity in a regional and global context. As always, we aim for students to leave experiences with us with a better understanding of how their everyday choices impact the world around them, and, therefore, how their conscious actions every day can create a better natural world for their future.
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