No Child Left on Shore
Middle school students from Cape Coral recently had an opportunity to take a cruise, see dolphins and other wildlife, and visit Cayo Costa State Park as part of the local No Child Left on Shore initiative.
In partnership with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Captiva Cruises treated the group from Gulf Middle School – about 18, including a few teacher chaperones – to the Dec. 15 excursion.
Captiva Cruises educator Richard Finkel noted that it was their first time taking part.
“It’s nice to do outreach to kids we’ve never taken out before,” he said.
“This is a great program for giving kids a hands-on experience,” Finkel added.
The No Child Left on Shore initiative was started in 2010 by Paul McCarthy, former owner of Captiva Cruises, and Finkel as a collaborative with SCCF. It is an environmental education outreach project.
The initiative strives to provide experiential education opportunities for the children of Southwest Florida who might not have first-hand exposure to the coastal environment by any other means.
“We actually saw a bald eagle from the boat – and a dolphin out on the water,” he said of the boat journey to Cayo Costa. “We saw a variety of birds out there as well around the islands.”
At the park, the group explored the shoreline and learned about the local wildlife.
“We did a beach walk, and we did a little show and tell with what everybody found,” Finkel said.
He noted that a cold front has recently come through.
“There was a lot of neat stuff that washed up on the beach,” he said.
The group found whelk and conch shells, horseshoe crabs and crab skeletons, along with pieces of coral and a variety of shells. Finkel explained that the hands-on experience goes a long way for youth.
“It just opens up their eyes to the variety of life and the ecosystems,” he said. “Connecting what they heard about and read about to things they can actually see and pick up.”
The group spotted white and brown pelicans, as well as some herons and egrets.
“We talked a lot about the food chains, and how what was found on the beach fits in,” Finkel said.
He also covered with the students how estuaries serve as a nursery grounds for species.
“So why these areas are so important to Southwest Florida,” Finkel said.
He noted that many in the group found sand dollars while they were combing the beach.
“The sand dollars are always a big hit with the adults and kids,” Finkel said.
As always, he answered any questions that came up.
“Sometimes I learn just as much from the kids as, hopefully, they learn from us,” Finkel said. “It’s their enthusiasm and their zest to learn more about what they see.”
On the trek from the boat to the beach, the trail crosses the barrier island.
“So they learn about the barrier island ecology, the mangrove swamp on one side and the Gulf on the other side,” he said, adding that the group spends about two hours exploring the state park.
A highlight of the cruise is using the trawling net to discover what is under the water.
“It was kind of interesting to do it after the severe red tide we had over the summer,” Finkel said, adding that the group pulled up some silver trout, pinfish, sea hares and small blue crabs.
He reported that quite a few asked if they could take the trip again next year.
“It’s something very rewarding to hear,” Finkel said.
Back at the school, teacher Dr. Charles O’Connor asked the students about the excursion.
“My favorite field trip I’ve ever been on,” one youth said. “I never knew about the Calusa people and all the islands we had nearby. I didn’t know about much about the stuff we caught on the boat, like the sea rabbit (hare).”
“I’ve never been on a boat before, but I really enjoyed it,” another child said. “I loved seeing all the stuff from the (trawling) net and it was cool to put it back again.”
“The walk in the water and on the beach was my favorite part,” one said. “There so many shells.”
No Child Left on Shore is funded by donations raised by SCCF, with Captiva Cruises providing reduced rates. Each of the groups typically arrange their own transportation and chaperones.
Individual donors can earmark funds to SCCF for the initiative.
Those interested in supporting the initiative or have questions about it can contact SCCF at SCCF@SCCF.org or Captiva Cruises at info@captivacruises.com or 239-472-5300.
For additional information, visit online at www.sccf.org.