Fifth-graders study critters at ‘MacBeach’
NORTH PALM BEACH — Seminole Trails Elementary School students were entranced by the estuary creatures they scooped up in a giant net Wednesday at MacArthur Beach State Park, quickly getting past the shock of the chilly water lapping at their legs.
Each of the 50 fifth-grade students became scientists as they explored the mangrove-lined estuary, a mix of fresh and saltwater full of oysters, crabs, shrimp and plant life. The students took turns pulling the wide net and scooping the critters into a bucket for observation later.
Palm Beach County’s only state park, with 438 acres and about 2 miles of beach, is named for John D. MacArthur. The insurance magnate contributed land for the park and founded Palm Beach Gardens.
The park bearing his name received $83,489 to improve student programs and create new educational experiences. The money comes from the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties through the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fund.
The park’s education programs are already a hit with teachers and students. Cara Davis, a fifth-grade teacher at Seminole Trails, spent three days of her summer vacation at the park for professional development so that her students could partake in the MacBeach Day experience.
The field trip allowed the students to see firsthand the habitat and animal adaptations they’ll be studying next, Davis said. She expected cool, “but not this cool,” she said as she waded back toward the shore. “They are not going to stop talking about this. Guaranteed,” Davis said.
Seagrass and detritus — organic debris produced by decomposing organisms — tickled the students’ legs. Shrimp, a hermit crab in a snail shell, comb jellies, a snail and pipefish were among their findings.
Michael Louise June was impressed by the crab he saw crawling up a mangrove branch and the crab that commandeered the snail’s shell. Johanna Harris’ favorite critter was the shrimp in the water. “I learned that this estuary is home to many baby animals, and most of the stuff in this water is for their food and for their shelter,” Johanna said.
For many of the students at the West Palm Beach school where 85 percent or more of students qualified for free or reduced lunch, this was their first time at the park or anywhere like it. Seminole Trails Elementary is between Haverhill Road and Military Trail, just west of the Villages of Palm Beach Lakes.
Park Director of Education Veronica Frehm said introducing the students to the outdoor classroom is one of her parts of the program.
With the grant, Frehm will add more about sustainability in the curriculum, develop rainy-day activities for students and create a citizen science program.
The park runs out of days to reschedule if it rains, and the schools may lose out on their bus transportation on the rain dates, said Cheryl Houghtelin, executive director of Friends of MacArthur Beach State Park. Rain lesson plans will allow students to get hands-on learning in the classroom, similar to if they went in the water. For an example, an aquarium filled with seaweed, dune grasses and sea grapes mimics the estuary, she said.
A new citizen science program will teach people of all ages about microplastics — tiny, broken-down pieces of plastic that threaten aquatic life, Houghtelin said.
Professionals from Palm Beach Atlantic University, Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management, the Solid Waste Authority and the Palm Beach County School District are volunteering their time to develop the program, she said.