The Florida Watermenz spent an amazing week learning to sail the seven seas- okay maybe just 2 (Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic).
Our group of (8) 8th grade scouts and four parent leaders filled 2 forty foot sailboats, along with a captain and first mate on each boat.
From breathtaking sunrises to sunsets, our days were filled with adventure. Whether we were snorkeling, fishing, kayaking, prepping food, grilling, sharing meals, playing games (or just napping!), we were truly building memories of a lifetime!
Our adventure wasn't only fun, it was incredibly educational. The structure of our adventure allowed for us to learn about the unique marine ecosystems surrounding the Florida Keys, in a truly hands-on way. Our Sea Base first mate, Nate (the great!), is a student of marine biology. As he led us through the different ecosystems, he was able to teach us about the biodiversity surrounding us, up close and in real time.
Kayaking the Mangroves taught us all about this incredibly important biodiverse hotspot. Not only do the Mangroves provide a home for many plants and animals (including hundreds of threatened species), they also filter run-off from pouring into our oceans.
We were snorkeling fools! One of the big concerns (once we knew Hurricane Debbie had passed) was underwater visibility. After a storm, snorkeling can be pretty pointless with poor visibility. Luckily, the storm didn't turn things up in the Keys, leaving us with crystal clear water. We snorkeled in areas other crews haven't been able to get to all summer, due to choppy waters. Some of the spots we checked out had great names, like Molasses, Mosquito Bay, Pickles and Alligator Reef to name a few. The reefs showcased different types of coral (banks or patches) and amazing marine life, including all sorts of colorful fish, sting rays and lots of barracudas! We also snorkeled around sea grass and hard bottom areas (2 other types of marine ecosystems), to cement our learning. The scouts did an amazing job of taking care of the coral, minding their flippers and not removing anything from the ocean in "no take" areas. We all practiced and talked about the importance of "leave no trace," more than once.
In all, we sailed (and motored) more that 114 nautical miles in a circular route in and around Islamorada and Key Largo. While in transit, as well as the evenings, a popular pastime was fishing. Fishing off our boats was open until 10 pm.
Our hosts were amazing setting up rods and slowly (if needed) teaching the scouts how to bait their own hooks or even make trollers. It was so customized to each scout's level of engagement and interest, which was a great low-pressure approach. In the end though, who doesn't want to be able to say they caught a shark?
One of the best parts of the day was sunset. The scouts would work together to tie our two boats together so we could share a meal. One boat would make the entree, while the other boat would make the sides, sharing
provisions as needed, so we could feed our group of 16 well. Scouts and adults would pass between boats and catch up with each others travels. A beautiful, old sailing tradition is to blow a conch shell at sunset. Some say this act is a way to thank the sun for its gifts to us throughout the day.
And we did have so much to be thankful for, each and every day. In addition to all of the obvious, we saw our scouts grow. We saw wonder in their eyes, excitement in their faces and joy and wonderment in so many expressions. We witnessed our scouts turn into well-oiled crews, working together and caring for each other. Memories of a lifetime, memories of a lifetime!
As for our adult leaders, I think it is safe to say that we are so grateful to have been able to lead such an awesome group of scouts on the adventure of a Scouting lifetime! Special thanks to Christine Tenezaca for the countless hours she spent meticulously planning such an incredible adventure!
Comments