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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. |
What: A Unique Teaching and Learning Transformational Experience
Where: St. Johns River, Florida, aboard houseboats and canoes
When: Spring Break, 2010
Student
Cost $150 payment deadline January
12, 2010
Pictures of 2007 Trip
Pictures of 2008 Trip
Pictures of 2009 Trip
Houseboat
for 2010
Tentative Itinerary , Spring 2010
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Day/Date |
Travel |
Activities/Schedule |
People & Links |
Pretrip |
Field
Day
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Field
Day
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Sarah
Crooks Flaire Dr. Ray Bowman |
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Trip
1 |
Students travel on their own to Crystal Cove Marina just north
of Palatka Palatka - Turkey Island, Welatka
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8 am - students depart UNF for Palatka; unload
food and personal gear at Crystal Cove Marina docks 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 Coordinator Scientist Captain
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2 |
Turkey Island - Lungren Island, Astor |
7-8 am - breakfast aboard; tidy up boat (clean
eating areas and bathrooms; stow personal gear, etc.) |
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3 |
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 |
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4 |
[fuel, water & pumpout]
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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 |
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5 |
Butcher's Bend - Brick Yard Slough
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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 |
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6 |
Brick Yard Slough - Butcher's Bend |
8-9 am - breakfast aboard; tidy up boat |
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7 |
Butcher's Bend - Lungren Island, Astor |
8-9 am - breakfast aboard |
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8 |
Astor |
8-11
am - breakfast aboard; clean boat thoroughly; pack 11 am - depart for home |
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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.
| 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. |
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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. |
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.
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