Have you ever wondered what it’s like to experience a REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program? Students, travel programs, or other groups can join us at the REEF Campus in Key Largo to learn all about the ocean, marine life, conservation, and how to make a difference! Read on to see what a day with REEF might be like for a 16-year old student visiting the Florida Keys to participate in a REEF Ocean Explorers Education Program:

Today was so awesome! We started the morning in the Reefscape Room, a super cool space at REEF that has underwater ocean scenes covering three walls! It feels like you're surrounded by fish and coral. We learned all about the fish species here in the Florida Keys. They were interesting and pretty to see, but the Queen Angelfish was my favorite.

After our lesson, we got to practice doing fish surveys right there in the room. It was kind of like a scavenger hunt to find all the fish and mark them off on our checklist. It’s hard to remember all the different fish, but practicing really helped.

After lunch, we went out to the coral reef on a snorkel boat! The water was so clear, and we got to actually practice doing surveys in the ocean. Did you know that the fish survey paper is waterproof, so you can take it in the water with you while snorkeling? It was so fun talking about the fish we saw while we were in the water. Someone shouted “ANGELFISH!” and we all dove back down to look. Definitely one of the best parts of the day.

Tomorrow, we'll learn how to submit our REEF survey data into their system. I am excited to know the info we collect actually helps scientists conducting all kinds of research. Then, we’re doing a lionfish dissection. I’ve never dissected a fish before, let alone an invasive one with venomous spines! Our REEF instructor said that we'll even check its stomach to see if we can identify what kinds of fish it has been eating. Hopefully not any angelfish!

Interested in finding out more or booking a program? Visit www.REEF.org/explorers to learn more, or email us at explorers@REEF.org.