Episcopal School of Jacksonville Students Explore Florida’s Springs and Aquifer

Episcopal School o Jacksonville’s Munnerlyn Campus science faculty recently led 63 AP Environmental Science students kayaking on the Santa Fe River through central Florida to experience the Floridan Aquifer and freshwater springs. After pre-trip work in class studying the geologic history of Florida and the current human impacts on Florida springs, students were able to observe land use around the springs and conduct water quality tests to measure the waterway’s health as they paddled. They compared ammonia and nitrate levels as well as dissolved oxygen in several springs. Students also incorporated environmental service into the trip, collecting and categorizing litter. Bill Hawthorne, Aquatic Ecologist with The Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute, met with the group at Gilchrist Blue Springs for a lunch and learn and spoke about the importance of the springs, including their historic and current uses, how the health of the springs is monitored, and future remediation plans to reduce human impact on the springs. The trip was made possible through a grant from the Guy Harvey Foundation. “It’s vital that students get to experience firsthand where their water source in Florida comes from. Immersive experiences like this (no pun intended) lead to a lifelong appreciation for our environment and the importance of our stewardship of it”said Marti Baugh.