Over four sunny field trip days in February and March, 192 third-grade students from Treeline Elementary visited Sanibel Sea School for unforgettable hands-on marine science experiences. Each day, students rotated through three immersive stations: squid dissection, surfing, and seining, and dip netting.

While teachers dedicate themselves to helping students build a strong science foundation in the classroom throughout the school year, field trips like this bring those lessons to life. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Treeline Elementary has brought its third graders to Sanibel Sea School for a field trip.

At the squid dissection station, led by Marine Science Educator Emily Pipkin, curiosity and excitement filled the air as students explored the anatomy of cephalopods.

“The biggest reaction came when I removed one of the squid’s eyes. When the lens was carefully removed for observation, students erupted in a chorus of surprised screams and laughter,” said Pipkin. “They were equally fascinated by the squid’s ink sac, learning how it helps the animal evade predators in the wild.”

At the seining and dip-netting station, led by Marine Science Educator Austin Wise, students waded into the shallow water to carefully scoop up a variety of marine life. Students carefully place small creatures into small tanks for closer observation before releasing them back to the ocean. One of the biggest hits was hermit crabs. Students eagerly held them in their hands, giggling as the tiny crustaceans crawled across their palms.

“They kept talking and laughing about how much it tickled,” Wise shared. “The simple moment of letting a hermit crab wander across their hands quickly became one of the most memorable parts of the day.”

For many students, the surfing station was the most adventurous part of the trip. While a few were initially nervous about getting into the water or stepping onto a surfboard for the first time, encouragement from Seasonal Marine Science Educator Kelsey Lowe and classmates helped them push past their hesitation.

“Once they tried it, everything changed,” remarked Lowe. “Students who had never surfed before suddenly found themselves riding waves and cheering each other on. By the end of the session, the challenge wasn’t convincing them to try; it was convincing them to come back to shore.”

While these three stations are Sanibel Sea School’s most popular field trip offerings, programs can also be customized. The education team regularly works directly with teachers to align experiences with standards or specific learning goals, ensuring the field trip complements what students are studying at school.

Most of the field trips hosted by Sanibel Sea School, including this visit from Treeline Elementary, are subsidized through a scholarship fund, which helps reduce the per-student cost and makes these experiences accessible to more local public schools.

To help provide more hands-on marine science opportunities like this for local students, please consider donating to the scholarship fund. Your generosity helps ensure that every child has the chance to learn about and connect with the ocean.

“There was no better feeling as a kid than a field trip day,” said Shannon Rivard, Sanibel Sea School Director. “We adore being a part of that experience for children in such formative years. Every day is a field trip at Sanibel Sea School.”

Learn more and donate to the scholarship fund at sanibelseaschool.org/a-chance-to-sea/.