Florida Science Trip
Day 1
Arrive in Tampa, FL and be met by your Global Travel Alliance tour director. Begin our science orientation and enjoy or first group dinner.
Day 2
Travel by ferry to Caladesi Island where we will explore the barrier island and begin practicing our field exercises including plant identification and wind effects. Be on the lookout for Osprey and gopher tortoises!
This afternoon we will tour Sweet Water Farms, a local organic farm where we will study the effects of pollution and the effect of pesticides and other pollutants on our foods. Dinner in historic YBor City.
Day 3
Morning snorkel with manatees in the beautiful Crystal River. Learn about manatee history, habitat, behavior, anatomy, and the laws affecting the endangered giants of the sea.
This afternoon travel to Rainbow River for our second snorkeling experience. Learn about a spring fed ecosystem including the vegetation, fish, birds and turtles. We will also learn how fossils like shells, coral, and shark teeth can be found in these inland springs.
Day 4
Free time in the morning at a beautiful sandy Gulf Beach! In the afternoon travel to the Florida Everglades where we will take a tram tour through the Shark Valley. Our tour will be led by a park naturalist who will narrate our 2 hour tour through the “River of Grass” where the group will learn about and identify alligators, snakes, and birds in the natural glades environment.
Later we will travel to Homestead to catch an alligator or snake show and board our safari airboat for a journey into the Everglades! Explore the whole wildlife park before departing later in the day for the Florida Keys!
Day 5
Morning trip to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park where we will board a boat and depart for the coral reefs and a morning of snorkeling on the reef. Later get free time at the beach, snorkel out to the sunken ship, and walk on the boardwalk through the mangroves.
Afternoon drive to Islamorada where we will get to feed Tarpon fish and shop at the Worldwide Sportsman center.
Later in the afternoon we will take part in a mangrove kayaking trip to study the different mangrove ecosystems and how the different species depend on each other for survival. Evening squid dissection or night wade in the ocean.
Day 6
This morning we will swim with dolphins! We will study anatomy, physiology, and practice classification during this fun and exciting learning experience followed by our dolphin swim.
Drive to Miami and depart in the afternoon for home!
