Author: Hilary Penner, Citizen Science Coordinator
REEF's Field Survey Trip to Bonaire in July had two special guests: Educator in the Field Fellows Erin Schmidt and Mikayla Neff. REEF Educator in the Field Fellows are dedicated educators who applied to receive a fully funded participant spot on the trip. They spent their week diving, learning fish identification, building relationships with other REEF members, and gathering ideas on how to bring REEF's citizen science programs back to their classrooms.
Erin has been a high school biology and ecology teacher in Minnesota for more than 20 years. She loves to bring her personal experience of the natural world back to her classroom and uses storytelling and citizen science to help her students develop an explorer's mindset. "On my first dive, I identified 14 species to upload into the database, and by my last dive, that number climbed to 50," Erin said. "I can't wait to analyze the data and create lesson plans that connect real-world ocean conservation to my classroom, hopefully inspiring the next generation of marine stewards!"
Mikayla is a high school English teacher in California. She believes that both literacy and marine education begin with learning how to observe closely, ask meaningful questions, and share stories that inspire people to care. "I came home excited to bring what I learned back into my classroom and introduce my students to fish identification, citizen science, and the ways ordinary people can contribute meaningful data to environmental research," Mikayla said.
They both scored 100% on the Level 2 test and will serve on REEF's Education Advisory Panel for the next year. As panel members, they will share an educational resource they created about their experience and lend their classroom expertise to REEF's lessons, which are used in field trips at the Ocean Exploration Center and delivered virtually to classrooms around the world.
Author: Jay Funaro, Marine Education & Conservation Intern
Jay Funaro, a Marine Education & Conservation Intern at REEF this summer, was drawn to REEF by the chance to work for a nonprofit while gaining experience in the varied marine ecosystems of the Florida Keys, where coral reefs meet seagrass beds, mangroves, and even the flowing grasses of the Everglades. Jay graduated from California State University, Monterey Bay, with a B.S. in marine science, became certified as an American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) scientific diver, and took part in multiple monitoring projects while cultivating a passion for public engagement. Jay shared a few highlights from the summer:
"This summer, I have been busy at the Ocean Exploration Center, greeting guests and introducing them to REEF's citizen science programs. Throughout the summer, REEF has hosted a variety of groups, including local schools, traveling summer camps, overnight expeditions, and more. During their visit, students learn about fish identification, the ecology of the area, the endangered Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus), and the invasive lionfish. Each program then includes a hands-on activity or takes students directly into the field to apply what they have just learned.
"My favorite activity at the Center has to be identifying fish on our model reef. Students take part in a scavenger hunt-style game to try out their new fish ID skills. Whether they are already pros or have never seen the ocean, the model reef is a showstopper. It is always exciting to see students' joy when they find our resident Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti), a fish only the size of their pinky nail!
"One of my favorite days was spent working with students in grades K–6 at a local summer camp. The students learned all about invasive lionfish and took part in a mock derby, collecting lionfish from around the building just like we do on the reef. They stood at the door as I briefed them on their 'dive,' and I loved seeing firsthand how powerful this game can be.
"Still, my favorite days are out in the field. Groups have the opportunity to put their newfound ID skills to the test on a guided snorkel or dive as participants in the Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Not only do these expeditions connect young people with a cause and let them contribute valuable citizen science data, they are also a fantastic opportunity to get out on the water. Living near the ocean doesn't always mean that local kids, or visitors, have the chance to go out on a boat and see the wildlife for themselves. It has been such a wonderful experience seeing the kids light up as they spot a new species and find their new favorite fish!"
Even when we're not in the water, there are always ways to connect with our programs, and our interns are continually expanding the presentations and activities REEF offers. To learn more about REEF's Ocean Explorers Programs or the Ocean Exploration Center in Key Largo, visit www.REEF.org/oec or email explorers@REEF.org.
Author: Rose Kelly, Education Coordinator
Bring REEF's mission into your classroom with Virtual Discovery Programs! Designed for students of all ages, these one- to two-hour Zoom programs combine an engaging live lesson with hands-on activities and show students that anyone, anywhere, can be a citizen scientist.
Featured programs include:
- Volunteer Fish Survey Project: Learn fish anatomy, identification skills, and local or regional fish families.
- Invasive Species (Lionfish): Explore what makes a species invasive, why lionfish are such successful invaders, and how we can help. A lionfish dissection can be included at no extra cost.
- Marine Ecology: Discover the importance of mangroves and how students everywhere can help protect coastal ecosystems.
- Endangered Species (Grouper Moon Project): Step into the shoes of island stakeholders to explore the challenges of protecting endangered species, and learn how scientists and REEF are helping Nassau Grouper (Epinephelus striatus) populations recover in the Cayman Islands. Recommended for high school students and older.
Programs are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and incorporate Crosscutting Concepts, including Patterns; Structure and Function; Cause and Effect; and Stability and Change. Each program can be adapted to complement your curriculum and ongoing classroom lessons.
$100 per program | 1–2 hours | No participant limit
Looking for a self-paced option? Check out REEF's free Virtual Field Trips!
