Fifth Graders Become Field Scientists at The Florida Aquarium’s Conservation Campus

February 11, 2026

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With clipboards and test tubes in hand, fifth graders from Yates Elementary School traded their desks for mangrove trails, pond banks, and the Tampa Bay shoreline as they became field scientists for the day at The Florida Aquarium’s Conservation Campus in Apollo Beach.

As part of the Aquarium’s decade-long Watershed Investigations program, students rotated through three outdoor research stations—including a mangrove trail, a pond near the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, and a working dock on Tampa Bay—collecting real scientific data while testing water quality, identifying birds and wildlife, and observing how local ecosystems connect.

“This is where science comes alive for students,” said Jenn Wan, Learning Team Supervisor of Experiences at The Florida Aquarium, who led the field experience. “They’re not just learning about watersheds from a book. They’re standing in one, testing it, observing it, and understanding how their actions directly impact what they see around them.”

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Courtesy: The Florida Aquarium

The immersive program engages hundreds of Hillsborough County students each year, many from the district’s highest-needs communities. The experience extends beyond a single field trip. Data collected during the visit will be analyzed back in the classroom later this week, where educators from the Aquarium guide students in interpreting their findings and connecting them to environmental stewardship and action.

“You can see the confidence grow in real time,” said Summer-Lyn Emerson, Fifth Grade Science Teacher at Yates Elementary. “Students who may struggle to stay engaged in a traditional classroom setting become leaders out here. They ask deeper questions, collaborate, and truly take ownership of what they’re learning.”

For many students, the hands-on work created a new perspective on the environment around them.

“We came here to test the water—the temperature, salinity, pH. We went to different places to test the water, and the best one was the lake,” said Yates Elementary fifth grade student Mialic Vellon. “It’s fun to get out of the classroom. I can explore more things. It’s more fun. I didn’t know the water could tell us so much.”

The Watershed Investigations program, which started in 2015, has drawn national attention. It was featured in the science journal Connected Science Learning as a model for environmental education. The program is currently funded by Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and is recognized for increasing watershed knowledge while building students’ confidence to help protect the environment.