How a College can be involved in the Community

   The Tinker Elementary school field trip to the Upper Tampa Bay Park during the last week of September turned out to be a sizzling outside adventure, since low tide and the smell of sulfur oxides made the wading experience different from what most children were used to. Two fifth-graders, Malea Collins and Cody Evensen, described the field trip as one of the best field trips ever.

   The field trip was about the kids’ individual discovery of the Tampa Bay Marine Ecosystem and the different mangroves of the Floridian ecosystem. Collins learned mangroves are called pencils when they are babies, and the roots of mangroves are very important factor for the survival of the fish. ”We licked a leaf and it was salty”, she added disgusted.

   Peter Rossi, Program Biologist of the Institute of Florida Studies at HCC and trip guide, explained to the children why the upper side of the Black Mangrove leaves tasted salty. Evensen expressed how he felt about the field trip in his own words, “I love the swamp; the swamp was the best part when you go out there with your friends and catch all kinds
of critters. It was better than just looking at text books because we actually experienced it. The best part was licking the Black Mangrove leaf.”

   The story of environmental programs and its connection to HCC dates back to 1970s when the Institute of Florida Studies, which is part of HCC and the Department of environmental Education Programs, also part of the College, founded the first environmental studies center (ESC) located at Cockroach Bay. The Institute of Florida Studies received a grant of $1.4million to build the facility on the 22 acres of wet land donated to HCC.

   The program grew; today it holds three ESCs with a total area of more than 1000 acres. The three ESCs are the Cockroach Bay, English Creek and the Upper Tampa Bay Park. The community based program promotes a greater understanding and appreciation of the biological, economic, recreational and aesthetic importance of environmental systems and the need of preserving it.

   On top of that it teaches about the natural history of Florida. The educational courses offered reach every age group regarding to the brought variety of research, training and information. Projects and courses like water and wastewater treatment, landscaping
and guided ECO-tours are just a few add-ons to the children’s educational field trip. Approximately 3000 children visit the facilities each year to learn more about the fragile ecosystem around them. Schools, colleges and universities are working on preparing children, students and adults of all ages for possible challenges and issues they might have to face in their future.

   There is no easier way to show and teach the society by showing the youngest and their families their own front yard and how to keep it clean and alive. “I think the whole message is about animals that are living under water and that scientists are still learning about, and we have just found out about”, said Evensen.