3 Years of Impact and Growth
by Mia McCormick
Summer of 2020 was not the ideal time to open a public education center. With the world in lock down, no one would be visiting the new Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center on St. Pete Pier. Its massive mangrove tank, colorful touch tank full of invertebrates, and interactive oyster reef restoration exhibit would sit in silence. But not for long…
Touch Tank at the Discovery Center
In the three years since its opening, the Discovery Center (DC) has grown a staggering amount. Not so much in square footage, in impact. With a mission to foster a healthy Tampa Bay watershed through restoration and education, the DC team is pushing forward each year with new classes, field trips, exhibits, and determination to make marine science accessible to everyone. For starters in just the last year the DC education team, led by Zoe Caraffi, has nearly doubled the amount of classes offered and the number of students reached. Now thousands of local students have the opportunity to experience hands-on marine science.
How do they come up with the classes, field trips, and outreach events?
“We have a small team of four educators who collaborate beautifully to create unique, experiential programs. Many of our ideas originate with our students and visitors to the Discovery Center,” Caraffi says.
Child touches an Ornate Diamondback Terrapin
Let’s start with onsite programming. That includes dissections of lionfish, squid, sharks, and even iguanas (coming soon). Dissection specimens are carefully and sustainably sourced and serve as a great way to learn about the anatomy, behaviors, and eating habits of native and invasive species. The DC has expanded programming over the past two years to engage young scientists 3-6 years old with our Bay Babies program, guests on the autism spectrum on Sensory Sundays, and adults interested in learning about the bay.
At the heart of the DC is the animal encounters that visitors experience everyday. Steadily adding new exhibits allows the education team to expand programing and learning opportunities. Since opening in 2020 the DC has added the Ornate Diamondback Terrapin exhibit (Summer 2021), the Ribbit Exhibit (Fall 2022), and the new Snakes of the Essstuary exhibit this summer.
Yellow Rat Snake in the new Snakes of the Essstuary exhibit
Excitement ran wild when Tampa Bay Watch acquired the Eco-Vessel (Summer 2021). This 45ft covered floating outdoor classroom opened the door to tours and workshops on the water that would make any marine enthusiast's heart flutter. Now anyone has the opportunity to snorkel the bay’s sandbars, or learn about dolphin fin identification, water quality, and environmentally friendly fishing practices, just to name a few.
Eco-Vessel Sandbar Snorkeling Excursion
The Discovery Center’s vessel is also the only wheelchair accessible public tour boat in the St. Pete area.
Whew that’s a lot, but it’s only the beginning….
By building strong connections with teachers and community organizations Caraffi and her team realized that many students and schools face transportation and funding challenges that keep them from experiencing all the DC has to offer. In the fall of 2022 “Marine Science on Move” came to the rescue. This mobile unit allows educators to bring their programming into the community, lifting the barrier to learning!
Marine Science on the Move
Caraffi says, “I absolutely love seeing the eyes of a student light up when they see a horseshoe crab for the first time. Our Marine Science on the Move program allows us to reach a broader audience and make marine science accessible to all.”
Live invertebrates at a community event in Jordan park
Three years have flown by, and the energy at the DC flows like a steady stream. Discovery Center director Leah Biery says, “As a team, we are guided by a shared belief that experiential environmental education can and should be available to anyone and everyone who wants to participate. We enjoy the creative, collaborative process required to overcome challenges and break down barriers. If a person or group wants to learn about the bay with us, we’ll find a way to say yes. I am so grateful to work for an organization that values and encourages partnership to make great things happen for our community and planet.”
