Explore with Us

Learning Through Adventure

Embark on an educational journey with GTM NERR (Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve) and discover a world of hands-on learning and exploration. Our education programs cater to a wide audience, offering engaging field trips that bring the estuarine environment to life for students of all ages.

Educators can access a wealth of resources to enhance their classroom curriculum, fostering a deeper understanding of coastal ecosystems. Our commitment to public outreach extends to community events, workshops, and interactive sessions, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to connect with and appreciate the beauty of our natural surroundings.

For young adventurers, our “Adventures in the Estuary” summer camp provides a unique and immersive experience, combining fun activities with valuable lessons about estuarine ecology.

At GTM NERR, we believe in the power of education to inspire conservation, and we invite schools, educators, families, and nature enthusiasts to join us in the exploration and preservation of our coastal heritage.

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HANDS-ON LEARNING

Field Trips

This program covers the importance of estuaries, the habitats found within the estuarine system, and the animals that call these habitats home. Students will learn about adaptations, food chains, and the human connections to the estuary with a focus on species found at the GTM Research Reserve.

Rotations include an Estuary Observation/Food Web Activity and the Animal Discovery Room with an introduction to a diamondback terrapin, and other estuary biofacts.

There is a third rotation which can include one of the two activities below:

  • Plankton Race Activity; students will build their own plankton models
  • Exhibition Hall Scavenger Hunt; discover more about the GTM NERR animals and habitats which include ocean, uplands, and estuary. 

Action Required: Select three of the four rotations above for your program visit.

Ages: Elementary 1st-5th grade

This program includes three separate rotations:  

  • Reptile activity board + Uplands Hike; learn about natural resources, edible plants, reptiles of the uplands (includes live snake encounter), and conservation management. 
  • Invasive Species Game; learn about impacts of invasive species to native animals and their habitats. 
  • Cultural history; Timucua history, use of natural resources,  and survival artifacts.

 Content is adapted for age group.

This program takes students through two rotations in the salt marsh and uplands (forest) ecosystems at the GTM Research Reserve. 

First rotation – Demonstrates how changes in coastal intertidal wetlands are tracked. Students will go out into the field to use quadrats and mirror the scientific monitoring methods used by research staff to measure plant biodiversity. Students will also learn how drones are used by field technicians for planning and accurately measuring changes in vegetation density. Additionally, we will discuss various career opportunities that leverage GIS and drone capabilities.

 Second Rotation – Wetland Delineation: There are many different types of wetlands, and these ecosystems are renowned for their ability to improve water quality.  Florida wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, cypress domes, sloughs, seepage slopes and mangrove swamps. Discuss career paths in relation to wetland delineations and participate in a short hike to two stations that compare soil and vegetation in upland and wetland ecosystems.

It is strongly recommended that students wear clothing they don’t mind getting wet and/or muddy.

Ages: 9th-12th grade

Saltmarsh seining allows students to emulate water quality experiments conducted by our GTM NERR researchers.  Students will use state-of-the-art water quality and weather parameter collection technology to determine how environmental factors impact biodiversity in the estuary. Topics discussed include dissolved oxygen, pH, salinity, water and air temperature.  Students will seine in order to identify and measure organisms found in the estuary. It is strongly recommended that students wear clothing they don’t mind getting wet and/or muddy.

Ages: 6th-12th grade

This program is an adapted version of our upper-level Saltmarsh Seining experience. 

Students will be introduced to the coastal estuarine (where rivers meet the sea) environment and learn about the specific adaptations native estuarine species have, which helps them survive in their habitat. They will also act as junior scientists by taking water quality samples and collecting real time data to help them understand how those environmental factors impact the animals that live there.  Students will seine and identify some of the species by using a dichotomous fish key. It is strongly recommended students wear clothing they don’t mind getting wet or dirty. 

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Teacher Training

Teachers on the Estuary or TOTE is a National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) education program that provides engaging, field-based professional development training for educators. TOTE workshops are held nationally and anyone in the United States can participate. Each TOTE workshop is a minimum of 15 contact hours and can even be used towards continuing education credits or CEUs (you may need to contact your school district for additional information on how to obtain CEU credits). For more information on the Teacher on the Estuary program, please visit the linked webpage. If you are interested in the GTM Research Reserve’s TOTE program, please email Education Coordinator, Josephine Spearman, at [email protected].

By clicking here, you can watch a video and get information on what to expect at a TOTE workshop.

    • Upcoming TOTE(s) at the GTM Research Reserve
      • To Be Announced

This program honors Educators, Schools and Districts dedicated to environmental STEAM education. Through regional certification trainings held multiple times annually across Florida, Educators gain official Guy Harvey Conservation Certification. The program also offers grants for field trips and classroom supplies, enabling Certified Guy Harvey Conservation (CGHC) Educators to enhance their teaching and instill conservation values in students. The purpose is to empower CGHC Educators with recognition, knowledge, and resources, fostering environmental awareness and contributing to a sustainable future.

A HELPING HAND

Self-Guided Resources

These guides offer the public the opportunity to explore our habitats, identify organisms, and visit cultural sites with the help of visual aids. They can be used with or without the accompaniment of a GTM Research Reserve staff member or volunteer.

Quizizz Scavenger Hunts – We suggest participating in these scavenger hunts onsite in the Exhibit Hall. Please ask our Front Desk staff for assistance with WiFi.

How to use Quizizz:

  • Make sure you are connected to the Guest WiFi.
  • Select a Quizizz link below, then select “Practice” and “Play Quiz”.
  • Select “Play Live”. You will be directed to either sign-up through Google or by email, or skip for now.
  • You can choose to play solo, play with friends, or use the flashcard version of the game.

K-4th Grade Exhibit Hall Quizizz Scavenger Hunt – This interactive scavenger hunt is made for K-4th grade students and will prompt visitors to fully explore the exhibits located in the GTM Research Reserve’s Visitor Center. From sharks teeth to live snakes and turtles, explore the Exhibit Hall to see what you can find!

5th-8th Grade Exhibit Hall Quizizz Scavenger Hunt This interactive scavenger hunt is made for 5th-8th grade students and will prompt visitors to fully explore the exhibits located in the GTM Research Reserve’s Visitor Center. From sharks teeth to live snakes and turtles, explore the Exhibit Hall

Marine Debris Clean-up: Marine debris is human produced trash that ends up in or near bodies of water. It can cause many issues including ingestion, entanglement, habitat damage, and even the introduction of invasive and non-native species.

How can you help? You can conduct your own marine debris cleanup on the beach to help the environment. Print your own materials and gather your own equipment or contact the GTM Research Reserve’s education department ([email protected]; 904-823-2292) to borrow ours. Please take one more helpful step and enter the data for the trash you collected into the apps listed below. This helps scientists communicate to decision makers important information such as the need for specific types of trash receptacles or the need for public information campaigns.

Marine Debris Cleanup Resources

 

DEP Kid Zone Learn something new about Florida’s environment. Coloring pages, story maps and other activities invite learners of all ages to explore the land, the waterways, and the plants and animals in Florida and beyond.

NOAA’s Estuary Education On this site, educators and estuary enthusiasts will find a variety of resources, including specially developed activities, animations, videos, teacher training workshops, real-time data, and opportunities to volunteer at a local reserve. This information will help educators share the wonders of estuaries with students and others.

NOAA’s NOS Education  Building ocean, coastal, and climate literacy for students and educators.

UF FL IFAS Bite Sized Science The Bite-Sized Science webinar series is presented by UF/IFAS Extension Florida Sea Grant agents. Each webinar will start at 4 p.m. EST. These webinars will consist of 30-minute presentations, but presenters will stay longer to answer questions as needed.

Smithsonian Learning Lab Support deep, meaningful learning with an online universe of authentic resources and tools for making them your own.

Explore Your Local Ecosystem Get outside and explore your local ecosystem. This activity can be adapted to any habitat found near GTM or your own home. Students will become explorers, investigating the habitats of plants and animals. Students will understand the differences between environments and habitats, while recognizing the importance of the connections between plants and animals in these ecosystems.

Marine Creatures Measurements Whoa, Picasso! Students will tap into their creative abilities while understanding the size differences between the animals of their choosing. Students will compare and contrast adaptations found in these animals. This is a great introduction lesson on why humans categorize animals into different groups.

Bountiful Birds  Estuaries are a rich source of food for a wide variety of birds. Students will understand why beak adaptations help birds thrive in different estuary habitats. This hands-on activity will help students learn about the rich biodiversity in bird populations around the GTMNERR.

Migrations Scrapbooks This week-long activity dedicates at least one hour per day for students to learn about animal migrations through a creative process. Students will write and animate a migration story that follows a different theme every day.

Fish Morphology This lesson and activity allow students to learn about the adaptations and behaviors of different species of fish. After building their own fish, students will explain why it has the adaptations they chose.

Global Climate Change and Sea Level Rise In this lesson, students plan, carry out, and interpret results of a scientific investigation. Students will learn why melting land ice causes sea levels to rise, but melting sea ice does not.

Mystery Marsh Water GTM In this lesson, students plan, carry out, and interpret results of a scientific investigation. In this hands-on activity, students explore density (mass per unit volume) of several different salt solutions.

Shark Adaptations Activity  – This lesson discusses the adaptations found in sharks that make them so unique. Use the Accompanying PDF Guide to complete the lesson.

ADVENTURES IN THE ESTUARY

Summer Camp

Discover the wonders of the natural world at Adventures in the Estuary, our exciting and educational summer camp at GTM NERR (Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve). Designed for young explorers, this immersive camp offers a unique opportunity to delve into the diverse ecosystems of our coastal reserve. Through engaging activities, hands-on experiences, and expert-led adventures, campers will forge a deeper connection with the estuarine environment.
 
From discovering marine life to exploring coastal trails, Adventures in the Estuary fosters a love for nature while imparting valuable knowledge about estuarine ecology and conservation. Join us for a summer filled with discovery, friendship, and a sense of wonder as we embark on an unforgettable journey into the heart of our coastal ecosystems.
 
Click here for registration and additional information.