Forest Hill's Environmental Academy Students Return from Bahamas
After returning from a five day field-experience of a life time at Lee Stocking Island in the Bahamas, exploring marine life and coastal ecosystems, the students of Forest Hill High School's Environmental Academy aren't likely to soon forget all they learned. Through gracious grant funding from the Perry Marine Institute and the Friends of the Environmental Academy, ten 11th grade students, accompanied by two of their Academy leaders, Ms. Sasha Linsin and Ms. Suzanne Pirtle, were able to travel this past July 17 through the 21, to the islands. Their goal was to investigate the role that science plays in the conservation and protection of our marine resources. The students were able to visit many key areas on the island, covering a wide range of topics such as geological history, coral reef ecology, mariculture, regional aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, and marine biotechnology. They explored mangrove habitats and ecology through snorkeling excursions to Norman's Pond Cay and blue holes or caves. Here the students were able to observe the many new species of crustaceans that have adapted to these drastic habitat conditions. The students were also able to visit the RV Kristina, which is an environmental monitoring buoy just north of Lee Stocking Island. The data collected by this buoy is transmitted via satellite and posted to the Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory's website. Here students were able to take in the importance and different uses of this information that lets scientists know when conditions are optimal for coral bleaching. The students visited different reefs around Lee Stocking Island, and learned about the different types of corals, their ecology, and population dynamics between different types of reefs. They also had the opportunity to visit artificial reefs in the area. The students learned to identify many different species of reef fish and conducted fish and spiny lobster surveys on the reefs that they visited. Through out the trip, the students benefited from the interaction with scientists and were able to take advantage of first hand glimpses and what is involved in being a field researcher. Future projects and trips of this nature are being planned to Riverwoods Kissimmee River Restoration Center and the Everglades. The Academy is also looking forward to deploying their own artificial reef in the Lake Worth Lagoon soon.
	Exploring the mudflats on a mangrove island. [larger image]
	Academy of Environmental Science and Technology, field study to Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. [larger image]
	On the summit of Perry's Peak, 123 feet above sea level. [larger image]

Here are just a few of the great things students had to say upon return to Palm Beach County: - "It was a life changing experience that opened my eyes to new areas of science. I want to learn more about the coral reefs and protecting them" ~ Becca Koontz Exploring tide pools on Conch Point. [larger image] Airport Beach clean-up, Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. [larger image] - "Meeting and interacting with the researchers, being able to get into the raw research, made it much more interesting and expanded my horizons" ~ Matt Botts Coral and seagrass, Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. [larger image] Nassau Grouper, Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas. [larger image] - "It was amazing being able to get up close and personal with the different species of fish. I would love to go back" ~ Leslie Rothenburg Searching for Exuma Island rock iguanas. [larger image] Conducting fish count on Elkhorn coral reef. [larger image] - "I loved hearing from the researchers and going cave diving. That definitely had the greatest impact" ~ David Palladino Observing ecology and population dynamics found on different types of reefs. [larger image] Close encounter with a sea slug. [larger image] - "I would love to go back to Lee Stocking Island. Even though I acquired so much knowledge there, there is still so much more I could learn" ~ David Reynolds Exploring tide pools at low tide. [larger image] Exploring the shallows at Norman's Pond Cay. [larger image] (A special thanks to Colleen Gleason for writing the text for this article!)