CACHS AP Key West Trip

Here at Camden Academy Charter High School, our AP Environmental Science course enrollment has increased from an average of 13 senior students to now over 40. As enrollment in the course increases each year, student interest in addressing environmental issues and gaining real hands-on experiences in the field have skyrocketed. Unfortunately, we are currently limited to 3 field experiences over the 180-day course due to limited funds and limited access to diverse ecosystems. In order to enhance student education and stimulate the application of classroom knowledge to real-world situations, I am taking the students on an environmental science trip to Florida in the spring. The trip involves students exploring the mangroves and swamps of the Everglades, volunteering at the RCMA, snorkeling while assessing coral reefs and aquatic biodiversity, and learning how to aid biodiversity restoration at a turtle hospital and dolphin research facility.
     In the Everglades, students will use their knowledge to identify keystone and invasive species and analyze the predator-prey dynamics in the preserve. They will experience the area's natural capital and witness how the human population has affected it. Students will also learn how sustainable practices, including ecotourism, can be implemented to positively impact the environment and local economies.
     The Redlands Christian Migrant Association, RCMA, provides a safe haven for children of impoverished farm workers in South Florida. My students will serve at the RCMA by reading to the children, helping them with homework and mentoring them. Many of my students have overcome tremendous odds and have worked hard to get to where they are today. They will be great mentors to the children at the RCMA, sharing their stories and promoting positivity, education, and perseverance.
     A large portion of the trip involves students performing field assessments in a variety of habitats. Students will test water quality, assess reef health, estimate fish populations, address pollution, and assess other human impacts as well as the efficacy of solutions used to remediate them. This, along with education from the Turtle Hospital and Dolphin Research Center in Marathon, will provide our students the opportunity to perform real scientific investigation and work together to critically think about current environmental issues and design solutions for them.
     All donations will go directly to flights, transportation, room and board, and costs of the scientific excursions for 40 students. I believe this is my last opportunity, before their graduation, to promote education and show the students that they have the ability to use their knowledge and skills to effectively practice sustainability and advocate for change in public practice/policy. This is a once in a lifetime educational experience and your donations have the power to change my students' lives forever.