March 2009

An Innovative, Dynamic, Multidisciplinary Transformational Learning Opportunity on the St. Johns River, Florida, USA

A cross-section of students from various disciplines participate in an immersion field event traveling on the St. Johns River during which they use the river and its surroundings as a context to learn about the connections between disciplines.  Students engage in historic, scientific, artistic, social, engineering, economic, and educational activities.  A project-based approach enables each student to share his/her unique experience and perspective of the river with onboard classmates.

Houseboat for 2010


Tentative Itinerary , Spring 2010

Day/Date

Travel

Activities/Schedule

People & Links

Pretrip

Field Day
February XX

 

Field Day

  • How to observe nature and incorporate sketches into a journal
  • Basic canoeing/kayak instruction.
  • Common knots used in boating.

Field Day Pictures, 2009

Sarah Crooks Flaire
(sketching)

Dr. Ray Bowman
(paddling & knot tying)

 

Trip

 

 

1
Saturday
March 13

Students travel on their own to Crystal Cove Marina just north of Palatka

Crystal Cove Marina Website

Map

Palatka - Turkey Island, Welatka

8 am - students depart UNF for Palatka; unload food and personal gear at Crystal Cove Marina docks
9:30 am - student drivers transport empty cars to Astor, place TBA; while their shipmates carry food and personal gear to houseboat
12 pm - all students board houseboat at Crystal Cove Marina, Palatka, stow gear, prepare for trip, and receive basic boat safety instruction
1 pm - cast off from dock, depart upsteam
1:15 pm - underway, trip orientation by Dr. Pyati on top deck; students describe projects and establish task list (who, what, when) for group project; make preparations for dinner
5 pm anchor near Turkey Island, Welatka
5:30 pm - dinner aboard
7 pm - evening visit to Welatka Spring
8:30 pm - movie River Into the New World - St. Johns River produced by the St. Johns River Alliance
10 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate

Note: Students work on individual and group projects throughout the trip at available times on board such as transit time between ports, between events in port, after meals, etc.

Trip Leader
Dr. Radha Pyati
(904.234.7452)

Coordinator
April Moore
(904.607.9683)

Scientist
Dr. Ray Bowman
(904.382.6002)

Captain
David Girardin
(386.937.1566)
[licensed captain]

2
Sunday
March 14

Turkey Island - Lungren Island, Astor

7-8 am - breakfast aboard; tidy up boat (clean eating areas and bathrooms; stow personal gear, etc.)
8 am - weigh anchor and head for Lake George
10 am - arrive at Salt Springs Run; visit the spring by small boat
12 pm - return to houseboat and lunch
2 pm - at Silver Glen Springs meet Jennifer Sagan who leads a snorkeling tour of submerged aquatic vegetation beds and the springs
4 pm - return to houseboat, weigh anchor; travel upstream to Lungren Island south of Astor; students work on projects underway
6 pm - anchor at Lungren Island
6:30-8 pm - dinner on your own at Castaways (386) 749-0187 or Blackwater Inn (352) 759-2802
8:30 pm - movie aboard The River Returns
10 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate

 

Silver Glen Springs

 

 

Castaway's Restaurant

Blackwater Inn

 

3
Monday
March 15

Lungren Island - Hontoon Island
8-9 am - breakfast aboard; tidy up boat
9 am - weigh anchor; travel upstream to Hontoon Island; students work on projects
1 pm - tie up at Hontoon Island State Park; lunch aboard
1:30 pm- hike to Indian Mound
3:30 pm - pick up Michelle Thatcher at Bonnie's Dockside Restaurant
4 pm - presentation aboard by Michelle, Princess of the American Nile
6:30 pm - dinner on your own at Bonnie's Dockside (386) 734-5808, Shady Oak Tavern, or Sunrise Fishing Club (386) 736-2970
9 pm - movie aboard Blue Spring: Gem of the St. Johns
10 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate


Hontoon Island State Park

 

Michelle's website

4
Tuesday
March 16


Hontoon Island - Blue Spring - Butcher's Bend

 

[fuel, water & pumpout]

 

7:30-8 am - breakfast aboard
8 am - depart for Blue Spring by small boat
10 am - tour spring, snorkel
11:30-12:30 - lunch (grill at Blue Spring)
12- 3 pm - art, nature photography & music; the influence of the river on artists
3 pm - board waiting houseboat; depart upstream
5 pm - anchor at Butcher's Bend; prepare for canoeing next day including picnic lunches
6 -7 pm - dinner aboard
8 pm - movie aboard, Wekiva, Legacy or Loss?
10 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate

 

Blue Spring State Park

5
Wednesday
March 17

Butcher's Bend - Brick Yard Slough


Note: vans pick up paddlers at Lake Monroe Wayside Park and after the canoeing, deliver them to Monroe Harbor Marina
7:30- 8:00 am - breakfast aboard
8 am - board small boats
8:30 am - depart by land from Lake Monroe Wayside Park for canoe trip down Rock Springs Run on Wekiva River, beginning at King's Landing (407) 886-0859 ending at Wekiwa Marina (407) 862-1500; pack your own lunch
4 pm - return by van to Monroe Harbor Marina, downtown Sanford public boat ramp; board small boats for return to houseboat
6:30 pm - dinner aboard
8:0 pm - movie aboard, St. Johns River: The Steamboat Era
10 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate

Rock Springs Run

King's Landing

Wekiwa Marina

Map to Monroe Harbor Marina

6
Thursday
March 18

Brick Yard Slough - Butcher's Bend

8-9 am - breakfast aboard; tidy up boat
9 am - depart downstream
11 am - pick up Dr. Sherri Brant, SJRWMD, at Monroe Harbor Marina
12 pm - anchor for lunch and presentation by Dr. Brant on Water Quality & Land Management
2 pm - return Dr. Brant to marina
5:45 pm - pick up Bill Dreggors at Lake Monroe Park (south shore)
6-7 pm - dinner aboard (not spaghetti) with Mr. Dreggors, Hot Sand and Sandspurs
8:30 pm - movie aboard, In Marjorie's Wake
10 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate


SJRWMD

Bill Dreggors' Website

7
Friday
March 19

Butcher's Bend - Lungren Island, Astor

8-9 am - breakfast aboard
9-11:30 am - students work on projects
10 am - weigh anchor; travel downstream
11 am - pick up author Bill Belleville at High Banks
11:30 - lunch aboard with Mr. Belleville, author, filmmaker & environmentalist
1:30 pm - return Mr. Belleville to High Banks
2 pm - students report on projects
5:30 pm - anchor for night at Lungren Island, Astor
6-8 pm - dinner with Neil Armingeon at Castaways (386) 749-0187 or Blackwater Inn (352) 759-2802
8 pm - presentation by Neil Armingeon, St. Johns Riverkeeper
11 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate

 

Bill Belleville's Website



St. Johns Riverkeeper

8
Saturday
March 20

Astor
8-11 am - breakfast aboard; clean boat thoroughly; pack
11 am - depart for home


Luggage  No hard luggage please, it occupies space even when empty.  Duffel bags that may be collapsed when not in use are preferred.  A pillowcase or mesh bag for laundry is suggested.  If you use a plastic garbage bag, your dirty clothes may ferment. It is highly recommended that you bring only what is necessary for the trip, personal items and gear required for onboard projects. We have a full schedule and space aboard is limited. Do not count on having time to work on term papers, homework, etc. for other courses.
Special Equipment & Supplies  NON-SKID SHOES that are made not to slip on wet decks are required. Bare feet are not permitted on wet decks.  Reef Runner type footwear or swim fins are strongly recommended for swimmers to minimize foot injuries. 
Other handy items include:  flashlight; headgear to protect from sun; sunscreen; sunglasses with tether (croakie); rain jacket (preferred) or poncho; spare pair of prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses; ample prescription medicines.
Swimming  Bring bathing suit, snorkel, wet suits etc. if you wish to swim at the springs.  Water issuing from springs is about 72oF. Sorry, no SCUBA gear permitted because of very limited storage space onboard.
Food preparation  Each houseboat is equipped with a full kitchen with utensils, cookware, refrigerator, range, microwave and propane-fired outdoor grill.  There is an ample pantry for storage of canned goods, dry foods, etc.  The galley must be kept clean at all times.  Clean up after yourself immediately after eating.
Showers  Take camping showers by wetting oneself and immediately turning off the water.  Soap and shampoo with the water off, then rinse.  You should consume no more than about 4 gallons.  Shower stall time is limited to 10 minutes.  Towels are provided.
Sleeping  Each houseboat has four double beds and a pull out sofa that converts to a double bed.  Linens and pillows are provided. You must bring your own sleeping pad and sleeping bag if you choose not to share a bed. All personal sleeping gear must be stowed before weighing anchor or leaving dockside.

Required Text: River of Lakes by Bill Belleville (2004).

Supplemental Text(s)/Resources:

 

MTLO Description

This course is aligned with the universities Transformational Learning Opportunities (TLO) mission. The university also currently has in place community-based learning courses in various colleges and departments that will provide the initial foundation for the development of an expanded, intensive, comprehensive, and institutionally integrated centers of the university.  All students will engage in disciplinary discussions and assignments related to the St. Johns River.   A cross-section of students are selected through an application process to participate in the field event, a week long trip on the St. Johns River.  During the trip, students are fully involved with activities on the water including guest speakers; water sampling and analysis, discussion groups, tours guided by local professionals (park rangers, naturalists, historians, anthropologists, etc.) and completion of projects chosen with the guidance of faculty mentors. 



Discipline Integration


 

 

 

 

 

 


Author Bill Belleville

 a)   History Uses of the river over time; importance to Native Americans; its Indian, French, Spanish and English names; its role in early Florida development; the perspective of long-time residents; old and new cultures; value to modern residents and visitors; state, federal and local efforts (or lack thereof) to preserve it.
b)   Political Science Current laws and regulations (municipal, state and federal); current legal issues and controversies; roles of St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the USEPA.
c)   Science Monitor water quality parameters, compare with standards/other rivers, plot trends; identify ecological environments, fauna and flora; describe key impacts of watersheds, springs and point/non-point sources of pollution.
d)   Health Impact of river on sources of drinking water; health of food chain; waterborne diseases; algal blooms.
e)   Economics Commercial, industrial, civic and individual economic benefits; value of recreation and ecotourism; potential economic cost of degradation or loss of use; cost of restoration of degraded and preservation.
f)    Engineering Physical characteristics, flow rates, tidal influence, historical changes in drainage and runoff; navigational use for dredging; power generation; bridges, storm drainage/sewer impacts, flood plain; and restoration.
g)   Social Science River's impact on historical populations (Native Americans to current residents); impact as food source; transportation; public access; commercial/recreational use, and societal benefits; responsibilities for stewardship.
h)   Communications Authors, naturalists and artists engaged with the river (Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, John and William Bartram, John Muir, Harriet Beecher Stowe, John James Audubon, etc.); community action groups, city newspaper features and editorials; local feature magazines; and public broadcasting programs.
i)    Education State of literacy about the river and impacts; education level of professionals engaged in the river; river related jobs; school curriculum about the river; current certification and non-credit courses available related to river.

Objectives - Students will

1.  engage in active, productive discourse relating to the connections between multiple disciplines and the environment and how they connect to hydrologic system and one particular unique river system in southeast Florida.

2.  explore meaningful, global concepts using critical thinking model attributes such as analysis, application, synthesis and evaluation.

3.  expand on foundational cause and effect scenario's through use of inquiry skills to discover secondary and tertiary rationale.

4.  explain systematic differences between social economic status, regional political policies and the power of historical components that govern people and cultures.

5.   evaluate formatively and summatively, the effect and connection of literature, media and technology between distinct regions in FL.

Common to all objectives is a combination of lecture, discussion, demonstrations, multimedia, journaling, collaborative/cooperative group inquiry, research, literature review and observational experiences.