Science Camp 2014

On Sunday and Monday, November 2 and 3, members of the Friends of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuges participated in Science Camp hosted by the Seahorse Key Marine Lab. 

Although the temperature was chilly, campers warmed up to all the hands on activities with marine organisms led UF’s Dr. Gustav Paulay and graduate student Patrick Norby.

Ginessa Mahar, a doctoral student in the Lower Suwannee Archaeological Field School, at the UF, spoke about her research into historical fishing practices in the area.

Seahorse Key Marine Laboratory Associate Director, Dr. Coleman Sheehy shared the uniqueness of the Big Bend area and his research into the snake and bird insular mutualism at Seahorse Key.

Maria Sgambati filled people in on education and outreach activities at Seahorse Key and welcomed ideas about how SKML and the friends group can work more closely together.

Most Friends spent the night in the lighthouse and enjoyed fish stew cooked by Friends Secretary John McPherson and the delicious coconut cake made by Donna Bushnell, of the Friends Education Team. 

Between classes, participants had time to explore the beach, take photographs, and drink in the view from the light station.

Launched in 2013, the two-day adult camp provides for an in-depth learning experience of the research and resources at Seahorse Key and in the Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge. Friends members got to be “students” again for a couple of days, while helping to support the Seahorse Key Marine Laboratory’s ongoing operations.