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Vester Marine Station

FGCU's Vester Marine Station was an eye-opening experience about how much fun you can have while learning. By far, this was my favorite field trip, because it was the most active one. I loved being on the water and figuring out how to steer the canoe. We were interacting with nature in a way we hadn't before on other field trips. Though we were having fun and getting exercise, we were also having important conversations about the nature around us. This concept makes me think of the discussions we have had throughout the course about education. It is important to start discussions about preserving our ecosystems, but it can be a challenge to get people's attention and get them to share your concern for conservation. Canoeing was a great way to form an individual and positive connection with the natural environment.
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While we were in our canoes, FGCU naturalists talked about the significance of the estuary ecosystem and pointed out interesting wildlife. Mangroves were the central focus of much of our conversation, because they are central to the survival of many of the species living among them. The mangroves serve as a habitat for fish and birds, provide the surrounding water and soil with nutrients, and act as a barrier to protect inland areas from hurricanes. The naturalists mentioned that South Florida started out as series of small mangrove islands, formed on top of the limestone that makes up the Florida substrate. This made me feel connected to Florida's history and helped me to understand more deeply the foundation of the ecosystem.

This weekend, I traveled to Tucson Arizona, and it could not have been more different from the estuary we were canoeing in. The town was in the middle of the desert, and the ground was dry and sandy instead of flourishing with life. This gave me a new appreciation for the wetlands I grew up around, and I realized that I have been taking access to water for granted. This appreciation reminded me of watching the film Before the Flood and some of the other videos we had seen in class, which emphasized that Florida may soon be underwater due to sea-level rise associated with climate change. Understanding that there are other places that aren't like where I live gave me sense of responsibility to protect what I have, so that my kids can experience the land I loved living in.

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