Julia Landon College Preparatory seventh and eighth graders recently took part in a "living laboratory" at Crystal Springs Preserve. The natural spring is found along the Hillsborough River in Zephyrhills, Florida.
The main purpose for the excursion was to educate students about the environment, as well as provided them with experiences to deepen their understanding of the importance of protecting the natural wonders Florida has to offer. Tour guides challenged students to become critical thinkers, thoughtful stewards, careful observers and analytical problem solvers. In the end, students walked away thinking, “This place is more than just a nature park!”
Up until a few years ago, the spring served as a local swimming hole. Now, Crystal Springs is recognized as a lush habitat of wetlands and forests that are important to the health of the river and springs. The park also provides programs that foster environmental awareness and stewardship of the land.
The students were divided into three separate groups and rotated around different spots in the park. The first stop was the education center, which is part classroom, part laboratory.
Students analyzed water samples from around the preserve. Using chemical testing, they determined the dissolved oxygen, pH, and other basic chemical levels. They were guided through a discussion of their results, as they explored how the chemical levels affect the overall health of the waters in the preserve. Students then used problem-solving skills in various situations to determine what could cause a change in the levels.
The second stop was Survival. Students retreated into a dense forest and learned what it takes to survive if left in the wilderness. They identified poisonous plants and animals they might encounter in Florida’s ecosystem. Students discovered that native Spanish moss and palmetto fronds can be a source of food if they ever get lost. They also had the opportunity to try samples of each. They collected drinking water through the process of transpiration by only using Ziploc baggies from their lunch bags. Students built shelters with what nature has to provide and had to hide out during a simulated rain storm.
These students now have the basic skills needed takes to survive in the wilderness!
The third and final stop was the River Rats Water Adventure. They took a tour of Crystal Springs Preserve’s habitats and explored the aquifer system. Students then received the opportunity to get muddy and wet as they took their dip nets and collected samples for their biodiversity survey. They netted and identified both invertebrates and vertebrates that live in the waters of the preserve.
The word that best captures the experience at Crystal Springs Preserve is “discovery.” Every trail in the preserve provided the opportunity to discover something new, whether the fragility of a spider web, the beauty of the fish swimming in the river, or the abundant life in the woods and wetlands. As students explored, they discovered the natural world and their role in it, developed a deeper admiration for the complex, fragile state of this unique Florida ecosystem, and most importantly the learned how to protect this natural wonder.
Crystal Springs Preserve will only allow a few visitors but is open to groups by appointment only. For more information, or to schedule a class or field trip, call 813-715-9707 or visit
www.crystalspringspreserve.com.
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