The Key Largo trip has made a comeback to Steinert High School! After being on hiatus since COVID arrived, Steinert students and staff returned to the Sunshine State for learning and marine biology fun! The trip consisted of five days and four nights in the Florida Keys staying at MarineLab, an environmental education center, and was organized and chaperoned by Mr. Siwiec, Mrs. Schwing and Mrs. Brown. The days on the trip were filled with boat trips and classes in a classroom on water! When on the boats, students were taken out to see mangrove trees, seagrass, and coral reefs over the span of three days. Many students on the trip had fun experiences to share. Kira Casler described the trip as one of the best Steinert experiences she has had so far- “The trip not only taught us so much, but also brought us all closer. Our jam packed schedule kept us having fun and learning both in the classroom and out on boats. My favorite moment on the trip was when Mr. Siwiec and I saw a shark. We followed it for nearly five minutes as we watched it interact with its ecosystem.”

This trip was a very exciting and educational experience. It allowed students to conduct hands-on research on marine ecosystems, which was such a cool experience. Every night consisted of different hands-on labs. These labs ranged from testing for ammonia levels in water to finding small sea creatures such as sea spiders or small shrimp in water that had been collected. Any research that students did was then recorded and sent into actual labs for scientists to use, which also added to the experience. This trip allows students to feel like they are contributing to something bigger while still having fun.

The best part about this trip was going out into the open waters and snorkeling with different marine animals. Places such as the coral reefs or patches the students were brought to were full of marine life. Students saw a variety of sea creatures ranging from regular schools of fish to reef sharks and sea turtles. It was amazing to see wild animals up close and personal. We recommend this trip to anyone who is interested in marine biology or learning about marine biology while also having a great time.

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