Middle school students learning about the importance of marsh grasses and living shorelines in the food web and to protect our shorelines from erosion.

Education

Reserve educators strive to create a special sense of wonder and discovery that are important in developing a strong watershed stewardship ethic. Learners of all ages benefit from spending time with our knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff and volunteers. Guided tours are conducted pending staff availability. Pre-arranged children’s K-8 programs are focused around the many resources available at the nature center and make use of the exhibits and nearby bay shore habitats. Pre-arranged high school programs take advantage of our place-based ability to get students into contact with nature and are conducted at various field locations. College and adult groups are also accommodated. We also offer materials for self-guided excursions in our nature center and nature trails, like our Estuary Explorers backpacks tailored to help children explore the natural wonders on our nature trails. If you would like to schedule a group program call our Education Department at 1(850)670-7711 or e-mail us for information on group sizes, available dates and specific content.

 

A pair of high school students learning about the importance of turbidity measurements in Apalachicola Bay.

One of our Estuary Explorer backpacks ready for use on a self-guided excursion.

High School students on one of our vessels learning about and touring the Apalachicola River and Bay Estuary.

High School student Nature Journaling with their class.

A group of adults participating in a nature journalling class.

Professional Development Opportunities for Educators

Sign-up for the workshop here

Come explore the beauty of Apalachicola Bay and Dog Island Sound by boat and by land.  This class offers opportunities to learn how to use nature journaling as an interdisciplinary tool for teaching students of all ages and abilities. Nature journaling is an inquiry-based method that uses numbers, words, and pictures to explore students’ own questions and ignite their curiosity. Teachers will use it as an access point to learn about the estuarine ecosystem, and its versatility will be demonstrated on the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve boat, the FSU Coastal Marine Lab boat, as well as in the marsh and on the shoreline. Come and meet the wonders of our watershed and join other educators to share best practices. We will also present a travelling trunk that contains everything you need, including a wave tank that allows students to become restoration and ecosystem scientists working on living shorelines and erosion prevention.  These trunks will be available to sign out from us and also several other locations throughout the state of Florida for the 2026/2027 school year. 
This workshop will take place in multiple locations with major meeting points including the following: FSU Coastal Marine Lab and the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve.  Free overnight accommodations are available at the FSU Coastal Marine Lab dorms with full kitchen access.  All classes and course materials are free of charge. 
Logistics: June 22, 2026 (Check in Day, Introductions): 2-6PM June 23-24, 2026: 9AM to 4PM 19 contact hours   Snacks, Lunch, and 1 dinner provided. Any grade level, Any discipline. This workshop will be capped at 20 participants, and we will add names to a waiting list if anyone cancels. 
Contact for more details: robert.gorecki@floridadep.gov  or melanie.humble@floridadep.gov Meeting Locations: Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve 108 Island Dr. Eastpoint, FL 32328 And FSUCML 3618 US 98 St. Teresa, FL  32346