By Aly Miranda |
Every year, the DATA sophomore class take a field trip to UT Marine Research Center in Port Aransas, for a chance to observe and learn about the marine life and see how their Chemistry and Biology class link together along with Geology. Today, one group of sophomores and their Biology teacher, Cynthia Sledd and Chemistry teacher, Valerie Felger, will be going heading to Port A.
A total of 48 students will be going and will rotate in three groups in three series of educational stations. The first station is a two hour vessel tour on the USS Katy research vessel. Students will collect and observe the ecosystem from the Gulf Coast and also learn about conversation. The second station will be at the fairly new Wetlands Education Center so students can learn about the importance of wetlands in human lives and environment, as well as plant population. The third station will take place on the beach so students can experiment and see the links to Biology, Chemistry and Geology. They will be applying school knowledge to the real world.
“It’s a largely educational trip. It’s a chance for students to do real field research and see the things we learn in class, up close,” Sledd said.
Because there are about 90 DATA sophomores and the marine vessel, USS Katy can only hold 20 or less people, this field trip has always been split into two different field trips days. After today, the next day for the other sophomores to go to Port A is the following Friday, on April 19.
“I really look forward to learning about the marine life and being on the beach too,” Sophomore Brennan Boykin said. “I also look forward to using the technology at the research center and using important team work skills with my peers.”
Also, since both days require students to be at school and ready to board the bus before 5 a.m., students are making preparations for the early morning, especially for this morning.
“I got lots of food, because it’s a long bus ride to Port A,” DATA sophomore Jon Thompson said. “I also tried to fix up my sleep schedule so that I could get enough time to sleep before I woke up at 4 a.m., even though I’ll have a three hour nap on the bus.”
Photo Courtesy Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce