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Manatee Awareness Month: Unique Ways Students Learn About Manatees on WorldStrides' Florida Eco Programs

November is Manatee Awareness Month, and WorldStrides’ relationships with various manatee-loving organizations allow travelers on our Florida programs to have the unique opportunity to dive deep into the manatee experience. Here are a few ways students how learn about these fascinating marine creatures while on the WorldStrides Florida Habitat H20 program.

American Pro Dive Center: The wonderful folks at American Pro Dive really deliver the natural manatee experience! Students get outfitted with snorkel gear and receive a lesson in safety from expert divers. Next, they board a pontoon boat and navigate the Crystal River in search of wild manatees. Along the journey, a special guide educates the students on the history and conservation of manatees. Then, the really fun part – slip into the water for close-up encounters with the gentle giants!

ZooTampa at Lowry Park: This top-rated zoological park features a world-class hospital where Florida’s sick and injured manatees are treated. Students learn about a working hospital, and see how some of the unique tools are used to care for the aquatic mammals.

Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park: Alligators, river otters, and bobcats – oh my! At Homosassa Springs, students explore an underwater observatory where they can view and photograph West Indian manatees up close. Homosassa is unique because it allows visitors to see a large percentage of Florida wildlife in one place. Florida has several species that are either not found anywhere else or are found in very few locations, including the manatee, Florida panther, key deer, red wolf and whooping crane.

So what makes the manatee so special? Many consider the manatee a symbol of Florida, as much as the sunshine and beaches are. They are massive, and share many similar features to elephants. In fact, elephants and manatees shared a common ancestor millions of years ago!

Despite their size, manatees are gentle animals and easy to observe in the wild. “I was traveling with a WorldStrides group on a Splash into Science trip a few years ago when we had a group of manatees swim into the snorkeling area of John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo. My students stood in the waist-deep water for over an hour while the manatees swam laps around them and even brushed up against them as they swam by. It was an unforgettable experience!” recalled Course Leader Kim Lloyd.

Kim has been leading Florida programs as a WorldStrides Course Leader for 12 years. “Every activity incorporates different ways to help the students connect with the material they are learning – whether it’s dissecting a shark, or kayaking over a sea grass bed, or learning about invertebrates in a touch tank or watching spotted eagle rays swim past the coral reef on their migration. Learning should always be this fun!” Kim remarked.

Young science enthusiasts will no doubt be inspired by these programs. “I have had parents of former students write me, telling me how much the trip inspired their child to learn something new when they got home. Those are my favorite emails to get…It may even inspire them to consider a new career field. WorldStrides trips are fun for everyone, but for many students it becomes so much more and it’s incredible to be part of that process.” Kim said fondly.

Marine biology lovers rejoice! Learn more about the WorldStrides Florida programs, including Splash into Science and STEM in Motion.