What have the Summer 2020 Marine Conservation Interns been up to?
What a summer it has been! With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, the interns have been involved in a variety of internal projects for REEF from Grouper Moon to social media. Interns have also been taking advantage of Key Largo's beautiful diving opportunities. In addition, all three interns have gone diving at the iconic Blue Heron Bridge, where they encountered octopuses, rays, and a seahorse, to name a few creatures. Stephanie has been working on her advanced certification with Key Dives and plans to complete her rescue. All interns have also been working on their fish identification skills, and are all level 2 surveyors through REEF.
Education Programs
Even though many of the usual REEF educational programs have not been running due to COVID-19, there have still been some modified opportunities for the interns to get involved with the public. Earlier this month, Marine Conservation Intern Stephanie led a Florida Keys fish ID program at the Ocean Reef Club. Additionally, all three interns helped run a modified camp program with Wesley House Family Services. Although we had less campers than usual, we still had the same amount of fun! Camp activities included snorkeling, kayaking, and loads of educational games.
Plastic Free July
REEF has been participating in Plastic Free July, a campaign which aims to increase awareness of the usage of single-use plastics in everyday life. Throughout the month, we have featured various team members along with one of their habits which decrease plastic use. These features can be found under REEF's Instagram highlight titled "Plastic Free".
Social Media
One of the most exciting projects for the interns has been the creation of a TikTok account for REEF (@reef_org)! The purpose of this new social media channel is to expand our reach to a larger demographic, primarily younger age ranges, in the hopes that we can build a larger online presence. Simultaneously, we have been working to amp up our Instagram game with more engaging content. Some examples include #WhatsItWednesday, where we post a close-up photo of a fish and encourage our followers to guess its identification. Also, on #ThrowbackThursday, we post vintage photos of divers completing REEF surveys circa 1990. Lastly, the interns began weekly feedings of our office lionfish, Sparkles, on Instagram live. These short sessions are an opportunity to interact with our followers, educate our listeners about the invasive lionfish, and answer any questions. These programs are announced on our Instagram stories as the times vary along with our schedule.