Blue Scholars Initiative

08/26/2026

Ever wonder about sea biscuits? 🤔🤔
This pic was taken in the field during our summer program. ☀️

Sea Biscuits (Clypeasteroida) are a type of flat sea urchin that lives buried just beneath the sandy seafloor in places like Biscayne Bay. 🌊
Sea biscuits use hundreds of tiny tube feet 👣 to slowly move through the sand while collecting tiny bits of food. Their hard shell, called a “test”, is covered in short spines that help them dig and protect themselves. 🛡️🛡️
💙 Have you ever spotted a sea biscuit or its shell?


students

08/21/2026

Take only memories….leave only footprints….🐠🦀🐬🐙🐡🦑🦈🪸

08/14/2026

We welcomed youth from Camillus House for a day of sea, sun and salty snorkeling! 🤿🤿

🛥️ only 1 out of the 12 had been on a boat before…. No one had ever gone snorkeling 🤿
🐠 we identified 43 different species…
🙌 we created some lasting memories!

08/07/2026

Recapping our summer program over the next couple of months….man it was so much fun!

This was with The Motivational Edge.

The lyrics to this song say it all….
”oh what a world we get to live in”🌊🐠🦀🐙🐬🌅🦈🪸🏝️🐚🛥️🩵🙏

06/26/2026

06/24/2026

Ever wonder about the Donkey Dung Sea Cucumber (Holothuria mexicana)? 😲 This funny-looking, even “funnier-named”echinoderm gets the nickname because it looks a bit like a pile of donkey dung resting on the seafloor! 💩🌊.

These amazing ocean cleaners are cousins to sea stars ⭐️ and sea urchins and spend their days munching on sand and organic material. This helps keep coral reef ecosystems healthy and clean. 🪸🫶🏻🫶🏻

And the coolest part? Our scholars spotted one in the field this week when we were out with ! 👀🔍

Have you ever seen a sea cucumber 🥒 in the wild? Tell us below! 👇💙

06/19/2026

Our first week of summer programs was a total 👍👍👍!!!

We welcomed new scholars from the !

Many of the kids had never been out on a boat before let alone snorkeled in the Bay! 🩵🩵🩵

05/13/2026

Ever wonder about Loggerhead Sea Turtles??

Also known as “Caretta caretta” they are number 2️⃣on our turtle list this month and one of my personal favorite scientific names. ☺️🤩

They get their name because of their exceptionally large, block-like head that look similar to a big log. This really big “noggin” (which can be almost as wide as a dinner plate), is essential for supporting powerful jaw muscles used to crush hard-shelled prey like crabs, clams and conchs. 🦀🐚 Loggerheads have some of the strongest bite force of any sea turtle! 🦷🦷

In Florida, the Loggerhead sea turtle is legally designated as a threatened species. It is protected at both the state and federal levels under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

This month we’re focusing on them because it’s nesting season, when female turtles return to beaches to lay eggs and we may see more activity in nearby waters! Because Florida’s beaches host the highest number of nesting loggerheads in the world, strict state-specific regulations are enforced.  ‼️‼️

Have you ever encountered a Loggerhead sea turtle? 🐢

*bluescholarsinitiative

05/06/2026

Ever wonder about the Green Sea Turtle? This month we’re focusing on sea turtles because it’s nesting season, when adult turtles come ashore to lay eggs and more turtles are active in our local waters! 💚🏝️🥚🥚



Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) actually get their names from the green color of their body fat, not their shell!. They are great landscapers keeping seagrass short, which in turn keeps seagrass healthy. Healthy seagrass = cleaner water + more fish, crabs and baby sea life! 🐠🦀

Have you ever seen a green sea turtle in the wild? Comment below and tell us about it! 🐢🐢🐢

04/24/2026

That 🤙🏻🤙🏽🤙🏾moment before getting in the water….when you take a deep breath and just let the beauty of 360 degrees of ocean blue “wash” over you….💙🌊