Students from Immokalee and Fort Myers got firsthand exposure to Southwest Florida’s coastal environment last week through SCCF’s No Child Left On Shore environmental education outreach project.

No Child Left on Shore is a partnership between SCCF and Captiva Cruises that fills a vital need of providing local youth with an informative and fun way to gain experiential knowledge of the ecology of the region’s marine environment. This past week, waterborne field trips were provided for students from The Immokalee Foundation and Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida. 

“These were all first time experiences for many of these students, despite how close they live to the coast,” said SCCF Environmental Educator Richard Finkel. “The No Child Left on Shore initiative enables these youth to form a deeper connection to their coastal surroundings.” 

Students had the opportunity to cruise the waters of Pine Island Sound and Gulf of Mexico, observing dolphins and birds along the way. They explored mudflats at low tide, noticed the evidence of marine life along the shoreline, and enjoyed plunging into the Gulf water. They also learned about water quality and other ecological issues that scientists are working on at SCCF’s Marine Lab.

“My day was a nice trip on the water — I learned new things and discovered new creatures I never knew about,” said Byron M., a student at the Immokalee Foundation. “This field trip taught me that the world is full of discoveries.”

The Immokalee Foundation offers students the tools. opportunities and support they need to succeed at each level of their education. Quality Life Center, located in the Dunbar community of Fort Myers, enriches the lives of young people and underserved communities through academic enrichment, performing arts, leadership and cultural awareness.

For additional information, or to become a sponsor of a No Child Left on Shore field trip, contact Richard Finkel at rfinkel@sccf.org.