Taylor County 4-H Visits the FSUCML

On Tuesday, July 16, 2013, the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory welcomed 50 students and staff from the Taylor County 4-H Club. Their day began with a lecture on Dr. William Herrnkind's curriculum on salt water marine habitat and sea life found in the Gulf of Mexico in the Big Bend Area. From there a trip to the greenhouse with wet tables in which they got to interact with various marine species with instruction from Dr. Stephen Gosnell.

The group also toured the new research vessel - the R/V Apalachee with Captain Roseanne Weglinski. Sonja Bridges acting Interim Dive Safety Officer talked to the group about scuba diving including equipment, underwater measuring for research and what it is like to dive at night.

Zach Boudreau, an FSU Biology Graduate Student, talked with the group about his research project with stone crabs and had several live stone crabs of varying sizes to show the group. Each member of the group also got to use a net to seine the water for specimens. This activity was conducted by FSUCML Faculty member Dr. Chip Cotton and Dr. Kelly Kingon. Many of the group remarked that they were amazed at the diversity of activities taking place at the Lab.

4-H is the nation's largest youth development organization. Over 230,000 members in the State of Florida help to make up the community of more than 6.5 million young people across America. 4-H is a non-formal, practical educational program for youth. Florida 4-H is the youth development program of Florida Cooperative Extension, a part of the University of Florida IFAS. To learn more about Florida 4-H go to http://florida4h.org