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SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
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SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
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The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that environmental educator Richard Finkel recently connected local students to the ocean through No Child Left On Shore.
A joint initiative between Captiva Cruises and the SCCF, the environmental education outreach program offers field trips to youth who, despite living close to the ocean, rarely interact with the marine ecosystem.
Students from New Horizons of Southwest Florida had the opportunity to interact with nature in a meaningful way, while learning about the value of local marine life and coastal ecosystems.
“This program is the heart of our mission,” he said. “Being able to work with underserved communities to get kids out on the water and experience nature is how we can help teach children to care about our oceans and inspire them to want to protect them.”
The 20 middle schoolers were treated to a dolphin encounter along the way to Cayo Costa State Park aboard the Captiva Cruises’ motor catamaran vessel, The Playtime.
They were able to explore the coastlines of Cayo Costa, where they found shells and an array of sea life on the shoreline. Sand dollars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, tunicates, whelks, conchs and even a junonia shell were found during the outing.
“Many of our students have never visited the Gulf or seen these types of shells or wildlife,” New Horizons Chief Executive Officer Linda Cunning said. “This trip helps expand their world beyond just their neighborhood.”
The initiative was founded in 2010 by Captiva Cruises, Finkel and Paul McCarthy, former owner of Captiva Cruises, as a collaborative effort with the SCCF.
No Child Left On Shore is now a part of the Sanibel Sea School’s A Chance to Sea, a program that connects Southwest Florida children to the region’s natural environment. Part of the SCCF, the Sanibel Sea School’s mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time.
“We are so happy to be able to partner with organizations such as New Horizons,” Finkel said. “These organizations are a critical part of helping us reach students and connect them to our oceans.”
For more information, visit sanibelseaschool.org/a-chance-to-sea/.