by Don Onyeokeziri, Staff Writer

Most students who go to Florida for spring break don’t plan to go for an educational experience, but instead to relax on the beach and get away from school. For 22 students, (most enrolled in Katie Parson’s Marine Biology class) going to Florida was to get a better feel of marine ecosystems instead of the hearing it in the classroom.

“The purpose of the trip was to provide the students hands-on experience with marine ecosystems and animals that they cannot get in the classroom,” Parson said. This way they could step out from behind the desks and actually carry out what they had learned throughout the year.

During this six-day trip, the students kayaked along Florida’s coast, collected shells at Lido beach, toured the Everglades National Park and snorkeled through coral reef off of the coast of Key Largo, among other things. On the final full day, the students were able to swim with dolphins under the guidance of dolphin trainers at the Miami SeaQuarium and learn about marine mammal conservation.

“It was a great experience,” junior John Kirchner said. “Anyone that is able should go.” Though the trip is marine based, students did not have to be enrolled in Marine Biology to attend it. “All we had to do to attend was to notify Mr. Foley or Mrs. Parson of our interest.”

There has been talk that this trip will take place every year during spring break. Parson says that this is likely true, but next year’s trip may be physics based with teacher Patrick Foley.