Some 140 students from Shenandoah Middle School flocked to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, a national historic landmark and protected habitat, on Friday, May 13, for a BioBlitz event celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service and Vizcaya’s own centennial year.
A BioBlitz gathers members of the community for a burst of scientific activity where they help catalogue and examine flora and wildlife. In partnership with National Geographic, the event at Vizcaya gathered local scientists from institutions throughout Miami, such as CARTHE Research and the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science.
Stations were set up throughout the property to teach the children about the various local habitats and the animals that reside therein through hands-on activities. Stations included: Birds and Butterflies, Reptiles, Marine Life, and Bugs.
In a special activity led by CARTHE Research, students were instructed to toss painted coconuts into Biscayne Bay, which would then allow scientists to track how the currents move trash and debris throughout the bay.
