There is a thing called the wrack line on every beach. It\u2019s the spot where everything washed ashore during the last high tide was left behind in a zig-zag line parallel to the ocean.<\/p>\n
Seaweed, driftwood, and plastic bottles may be immediately visible, but if you look carefully enough, there\u2019s a whole ecosystem tucked under the wrack line to learn about.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s just part of one of the hours-long adventures designed for families and offered by the Sanibel Sea School.<\/p>\n
A program with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, the sea school offers its wildlife education in many ways: to school groups, in camps, in a family setting, and either on a public part of the beach or at the resort where vacationers are staying.<\/p>\n
Shannon Rivard, the school\u2019s director, says the most popular land-based adventures include those along the beach, within mangrove forests, and wading around seagrass meadows.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our sea grass bed sessions, families learn about estuaries, sea grass ecology, and basic fish biology, while using nets to gently catch and observe creatures,\u201d she said. \u201cSea horses, tiny fish, shrimp, crabs, snails, and comb jellies often make an appearance — and it gives participants a rare up close look at life below the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marine science educators lead a lot of the learning events, whether guiding a family through Sanibel\u2019s famous shelling areas looking for mysterious washed-up objects, live mollusks — and along the way teaching about the biology of shells.<\/p>\n
The sea school offers private classes for families, either on land or on a canoe. Those classes are usually two hours and can be customized to a family\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n
The three most popular classes are on land, either on the Gulf-side beaches, seagrass beds, or inside mangrove forests.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those who don\u2019t mind getting a little muddy, our mangrove forest experiences are unforgettable,\u201d Rivard said. \u201cWhile spotting fiddler crabs and mangrove tree crabs, families learn how to identify mangroves and why these resilient trees are important to Florida\u2019s coastal ecosystems.\u201d<\/p>\n
Classes start at $60 per person, but there are some discounts and scholarships for children in need.<\/p>\n
For further information about the Sanibel Sea School, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Environmental reporting for WGCU is funded in part by\u00a0VoLo Foundation<\/a>, a nonprofit with a mission to accelerate change and global impact by supporting science-based climate solutions, enhancing education, and improving health.<\/p>\n Sign up for WGCU’s monthly environmental newsletter, the\u00a0Green Flash<\/a>, today.<\/p>\n