Palmer Trinity School

experience. Catching and tagging 13 sharks made me think about just how important team work is, and working fast to ensure the shark returns to the water quickly. It is a great opportunity we are given, to work with the SFSSP and participate in the research which will help to discover more about sharks and medical situations."  Students, through experience, appreciate the gifts of the planet, rather than take them for granted. There is so much more than what they see out in plain sight during the day.  In hopes of giving them a glimpse, we ventured on a night hike through the Matheson Hammocks where students were able to experience nature in its prime time of activity, after dark.  They focused on being quiet, in order to not disturb or scare the wildlife.  They were also asked to walk slowly, enabling them to key into their surroundings and take in the entire experience.  Students kept their usage of flashlights to a minimum to allow their eyes to see with the light of the moon.  Prior and throughout the hike the students were given background information regarding the area in which they were walking through.  A highlight of the evening was a cave we stumbled upon and were able to crawl into.  Some people take for granted the simple joy of living so close to the beach.  In an effort to have the students take a look in their own backyard so to speak, with the help of Heather Coule Bardier, Coordinator of Community Service, we were able to gather over 40 students to participate in the Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup.  Students need to realize the role they play within the destruction and preservation of this planet, their planet. During the clean up, Andrea Rey and Camila Victoriano found a dead fish, a trunkfish to be exact, and appeared to be very sad. When I inquired as to what they thought had happened, they immediately hypothesized that it was probably due to the toxicity or harmful pollutants in the water.  Imagine being asked to be an advocate for something you have never witnessed and know hardly anything about. In hopes of giving the students such an opportunity regarding the Everglades, we embarked on a 3 day camping trip.  Elizabeth Newman, 9th grade, commented, "We became connected with the earth and our Florida environment by spending a couple of days with nothing but shelter and food. We learned about respecting animals and the environment around us." Senegalese environmentalist, Dr. Baba Dioum, said "In the end, we conserve only what we love. We love only what we understand. We understand only what we are taught." Whether you are a life-long resident of Florida or not, once you encounter its beauty you will indeed become an advocate for its preservation.  Through various opportunities I hope to foster voices, which cry out for our planet in hopes of protecting her in what may be her darkest moment.  My goal is to help students realize their place within the universe and respect that delicate balance.  Opposite Page: Bailey Evans, Hanne Staertzel, and Fernanda Rojas. Top right: Beach clean -up: Paula Franco, Jessica Salgado, and Victoria Alvarez Arango Middle picture: Zach Tassler, Christian Pfeiffer Bottom picture: Night hike: Mr. Yanez, Vanessa Zabala, Ms. Winn, Alexandra Daud, Rebecca Merritt, Zachary Tassler, Janelle Mendez P ERSPEC T IVE S 15

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