Every spring for the past 14 years, Middle School Science mentor Tamara Davis has taken her 7th grade class on a day-long kayaking expedition to learn about the beautiful place we call home. The field trip is the finale to the Biomes and Communities study, which explores the second-most diverse ecosystem on the earth: the Salt Marsh Estuary.

Students and mentors kayak out of Shelter Cove Marina on Hilton Head Island, as part of the Kids in Kayaks program hosted by Outside HHI. They are accompanied by several naturalists who educate them on the wonders of our Salt Marsh. The 90-minute kayak tour is followed by several on-shore demonstrations, all of which help students learn about the vital role the salt march plays in our environment. Water quality, the importance of oysters, and the function of Spartina grass are just a few of the topics covered by Outside HHI's naturalists. On the dock, students also learn about water quality testing, dock fouling, and the impact of pollution on our watershed.

I believe this trip truly makes my students appreciate the environment in which they live and makes them eager to protect it.

- Mrs. Davis, 7th Grade Science Mentor