Children use nets and pans to gather aquatic invertebrates during a visit.

On-Site Programs

In 2007, FFS conducted 152 separate programs at the UF Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences facility, involving 13,600 children and their chaperones. Visiting school groups and their teachers, youth clubs, and camps, typically participate in tours, demonstrations, and hands-on environmental learning activities which are specifically tailored to the age and interests of each group. They may tour the aquaculture facilities and learn about the history, biology, and reproduction of the threatened Gulf Sturgeon, or learn about the fish, plants, and aquatic invertebrates that they collect from small ponds using dipnets. Finally, the groups are given the opportunity to fish ponds that have been stocked by FFS with channel catfish, sunshine bass, bluegill, and largemouth bass. The programs provides a memorable first experience with the rewarding sport of fishing, and for many organizations such as Al's Place of Gainesville, Shands Rehab Hospitals, Altrusa House, Harborchase and the VA Hospital, provide valuable physical and behavioral rehabilitation. To schedule a tour for your group, contact Sharon Fitz-Coy at 352-392-9617 ext. 250.

"Hey, I caught one of these."

Biologist Sharon Fitz-Coy describes the anatomy of a water scorpion to the group.

Fisheries graduate student Jeff Hill conducts a discussion of fish anatomy for a visiting group.

A visiting school group gets the "Shamu" splash during a visit.

Biologist Jeff Sowards instructs a group of Boy Scouts on the fine points of tying knots.