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March 2008 |
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, 2008
Student Cost $150; Deadline for payment: Monday, January 7, 2008
Houseboat
for 2008
Schedule, Spring 2008
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Day/Date |
Travel |
Activities/Schedule |
Speakers/Topic |
Pretrip |
Field
Day Group Meetings |
Field Day:
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Sarah
Crooks Flaire Dr. Bowman |
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Students travel to Hontoon Island near De Land, FL on their own Map
to Hontoon Island ferry
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1 pm - students meet at ferry to Hontoon Island
State Park and board houseboat docked at the State Park
2 pm - departure for Lake Beresford; anchor
for boatmanship training, trip orientation and safety; travel
upstream to Lake Monroe Park, tie up for evening. 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. |
Coordinator
April Moore |
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Lake Monroe Park - Wekiva River- Lake Monroe - Gator
Landing |
7:30- 8:30 am - Breakfast aboard |
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Gator Landing - Lemon Bluff |
8-9
am - Breakfast aboard ![]() 9 am - weigh anchor; River of Lakes discussion 11:00 am - pick up author Bill Belleville @ Lemon Bluff 11:30-12:30 - Lunch aboard with Mr. Belleville, author and environmental activist 2 pm - group water sampling session 4:30 pm - weigh anchor; students describe project results so far and next steps 6 pm - anchor for night 6-7 pm - Dinner aboard 7:30 pm - movie aboard The River Returns 9 pm - work on group journal 10 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate |
Bill Belleville, author |
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Lemon Bluff- Lake Jessup - Lake Monroe - Sanford - Butcher's Bend |
8-9
am - Breakfast aboard9 am - weigh anchor, students experience river and work on projects 11:30-12:30 - Lunch aboard; pick up Dr. Sherri Williams, SJRWMD, @ Monroe Harbor Marina, presentation by Dr. Williams on Water Quality & Land Management 5:45 pm - pick up Bill Dreggors @ Lake Monroe Park 6-7 pm - Dinner aboard while motoring north to Butcher's Bend; anchor; Bill Dreggors, Hot Sand and Sandspurs 9 pm - work on group journal 10 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate |
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) Dr. Williams
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Butcher's Bend - Hontoon Island |
8-9
am - Breakfast aboard ![]() 9:30 am - meet bus at Lake Monroe Park for tour of DeBary Hall; pack your own lunch 11:00-11:30 - Lunch (picnic at Debary Hall). 1:00 pm - Return to houseboats; weigh anchor- depart north to Hontoon Island 4:30 - 5:30 - Joe Stewart, engineer, SJRWMD; river hydrology 6-7 pm - Dinner on your own at local restaurants 7:30 pm - movie aboard Blue Spring: Gem of the St. Johns 10 pm - work on group journal 11 pm - begin quiet hours on board; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate |
Joe Stewart, engineer, SJRWMD | |
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Hontoon Island - Blue Spring - Hontoon Island |
8:00 am - Breakfast (aboard) |
Stuart Pacetti Riverside Pavillion |
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Hontoon Island - Silver Glen Springs - Hontoon Island |
7-8 am - Breakfast aboard |
Scientist Dean Dobberfuhl, SJRWMD | |
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Hontoon Island |
8-9
am - Breakfast aboard ![]() 9 am - depart south 10 am - students report on individual and group projects 11:30-12:30 - Lunch aboard 1 pm - hike to Hontoon Island Indian mound or paddle Dead River 4:30 pm - Neil Armingeon arrives 5-7 pm - Dinner on your own at local restaurants 7:30 pm - campfire and presentation by Neil Armingeon, St. Johns Riverkeeper 10 pm - work on group journal 11 pm - begin quiet hours; conversations OK on topdeck only; cell phone ringers on vibrate |
Neil
Armingeon, |
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9 |
Hontoon Island |
7-8 am - Breakfast aboard |
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.
St. Johns River Web Links
New World in a State of Nature: John and William Bartram Travel the St. Johns
River, 1765-1766
http://www.epa.gov/rivers/98rivers/fsstjohn.html
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_stjohnsriver.pdf
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/florida_waters/florida_waters.html
Overview, St. Johns River Water
Management District -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/bk_overview.pdf
Lower Basin -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_lsjrb.pdf
Middle Basin -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_msjrb.pdf
Upper Basin & Canal 54 -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_understanding_flooding.pdf
Middle & Upper Basin Map -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_understanding_flooding_MAPS.pdf
Upper Basin -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_usjrbproject.pdf
Florida water conservation -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/bk_waterwise.pdf
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_waterstar.pdf
Algae -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/br_algae.pdf
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_algae.pdf
Florida Aquifers -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/br_flaquifer.pdf
Aquatic Grasses -
http://www.sjrwmd.com/programs/outreach/pubs/order/pdfs/fs_aqgrass.pdf
Florida Images -
http://geology.com/satellite/florida-satellite-image.shtml &
http://geology.com/states/florida.shtml
http://local.live.com/?vendor=google&match_type={ifsearch:search}{ifcontent:content}&pkw=florida
http://sjr.state.fl.us/welcome/river_tour/river_tour.html
http://dhr.dos.state.fl.us/services/magazine/03summer/stjohns.cfm
http://sjr.state.fl.us/archydro/factsindex.html - watershed facts map
index
| 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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