Cover Story: Inspiring the next generation to protect our environment

>> WATER QUALITY IS A BIG ISSUE ON OUR GULF COAST, BUT IT’S NOT JUST EXPERTS WORKING ON SOLUTIONS THIS WEEK. MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE GETTING HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH FGCU FROM TESTING AND ANALING TO LEARNING WHAT IT TAKES TO CARE FOR OUR ECOSYSTEMS. IN TONIGHT’S COVER STORY, ONLY SERVING QUITS IS TAKING US OUT ON THE WATER WITH THEM. >> WHAT ARE WE ON THE GET THE VOTE OVER ON THE ISLAND THAT CAN MAKE YOU NEED COME IN OVER HITTING THE WATER FOR A DAY FULL OF GOING LAUGHTER LA. >> A TYPICAL OFF INTO PASSION TO MIDDLE SCHOOLER STRUCK FROM FLORIDA GULF COAST UNIVERSITY’S VESTER FIELD STATION IN BONITA SPRINGS. IT’S A LOVERS KEY STATE PARK WHERE TH LEARNED THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING OUR ENVIRONMENT HAVE BEEN LEARNING ABOUT HOW TO CLEAN THE OCEAN, HOW TO USE DIFFERENT EQUIPMENT BECAUSE WHEN WRE LIKE HOLD OR WE COULD HELP SAVE THE OCEAN AFTER DROPPING IT WAS TIME TO HOP IN THE WATER. >> AND IT JUST HOW LIKE THE BEACHES CHANGED OVER TIME IS GOING TO SHOWS LIKE WHEN HURRICANES HIT, THE INSTRUCTOR SAID THAT HE’S JAX WORRIES LIKE HAMPSHIRE TEAMS FROM THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO. >> A REALLY COOL. SO YOU GOT THOSE 2. ARE THERE ANY 2 PEOPLE OVER HERE? FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE DAY, TO ONE PUSH FOR SAMPLING IT’S ABOUT HANDS ON AS LEARNING GET IS THAT EVERYONE CHIPPING AND OUT LIKE THAT. HIGH. >> NOW WE USE. THE CAN OPENER. >> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE THE SEARCH FOR SHELLS KICKED OFF. >> AND WE’RE NOT GOING TO FIND LIGHTNING. >> LIKE WHY? THE NAME OF GOD. THAT’S SO HOW DOES COLLECTING SHELLS AND SEGMENT HELP THE NEXT GENERATION TAKE THE FUTURE? WHAT A QUALITY INTO THEIR HANDS. YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU’RE IN THE CLASSROOM, THEY CAN BE PRESENT. AND WITH ALL THE INFORMATION. BUT YOU DON’T REALLY FULLY GRASP THE ENORMITY OF IT UNTIL YOU’RE OUT HERE IN THE FIELD AND YOU SEE IT FIRSTHAND. THE GOAL IS TURNING LEARNING INTO INSPIRATION. WE’VE HAD. >> STUDENTS SAY, YOU KNOW, I DIDN’T KNOW I LIKE TIDES AND CURRENTS, BUT MAYBE I WANT TO DO THAT WHEN I GROW UP AND BE A COASTAL MODELER AND THAT WAS REALLY COOL. BECAUSE LIKE THAT’S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED A LOT FUN JOB. YEAH. WOULD ONE DAY THE KIDS MESSAGE? DO YOU MAKE SURE IT’S ALWAYS FUN WAYS TOHELP THE OCEA