Estuary energy

Kids take in annual scientific exploration

Apalachicola Bay Charter School third grader Lyla Morehead, right, and first grader Haxlie Turrell, have some fun at Estuaries Day. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

Luke Leonard, a homeschooled sixth grader from Eastpoint, checks off an item from the protected species game as volunteer Jake Power assists at left. To the left is a giant taxidermied alligator with its mouth wide open. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

Amber Segree, from Eastpoint, at right, with her daughter, ABC Kindergartner Claire, to examine through a microscope the many tiny creatures that live under the sea. At back is mom Allison Gossett, from Nashville, with her daughter, first grader Iris. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

Eric Haynam, from Port St. Joe, brought his three daughters, Abigail, 2; Alyana, 4; and second grader Naomi to Estuary Day, where they especially enjoyed gently touching the horseshoe crabs. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

A volunteer with the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve shows off details of the large mural to Port St. Joe homeschoolers second grader Ada Haas and fourth grader Grace Leonard. [ David Adlerstein | The Times ]

The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve in Eastpoint was once again jammed with eager students and their fascinated parents from Gulf and Franklin counties as they came by to celebrate National Estuaries Day on Friday afternoon, May 3.

This free, fun and educational event features stations that gave hands-on demos of animal touch tanks, and all sorts of nature-themed games, like endangered animal bingo and waterfront races, and more. 

Attendees could also tour ANERR’s 5,400 square-foot Nature Center, which features an 80-foot-long mural depicting the area ecosystems, as well as historical exhibits, and a hands-on Bay Discovery Room.

The Drone Zone Challenge delighted the attendees, who each received a free t-shirt.

This Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon ET, ANERR will offer a free educational boaters workshop sponsored by NOAA and the National Weather Service. Topics will include precision navigation, nautical charts, marine forecasting and weather warnings.

On Thursday, May 23, from 3 to 4 p.m. ANERR will offer a free online webinar on “People of the Apalachicola: A Community-Driven Archaeology Project,” which will briefly explore Apalachicola-area history and heritage, highlighting the ways in which archaeological sites are at risk from climate change impacts. Especially important to the discussion is how engaged communities can play a critical role in the long-term preservation of local heritage.