Marine Science Station

10/13/2026

Today was a great teaching moment for these Academy of Environmental Science students. On our way upstream on the Crystal River to conduct environmental & water quality monitoring, Marine Science Station Supervisor Earnie Olsen noticed something unusual floating near the surface. The MSS and AES crew saw that it was a juvenile bottlenose dolphin in distress due to entanglement in crab trap line.
Captain Olsen established contact with the FWC with video, GPS coordinates, and the condition of the animal. Due to the dolphin's location in the middle of the Crystal River channel, it had to be constantly monitored while Clearwater Marine Aquarium and University of Florida biologist traveled to Crystal River.
Students had to continue with their learning activities on our extra MSS vessels while one stayed behind to keep watch over the dolphin and protect it from passing boats.
Captain Justin Dymond of Florida Bowfishing Adventures arrived to assist and so did Captain Memphis Zachry
Upon arrival of the dolphin rescue team, the team effort led to this dolphin being rescued and released, relatively unharmed.
If you see something unusual on the water, always investigate if it is safe to do so. You never know, you may save a life!
Citrus County School District
Citrus County Education Foundation

10/08/2026

If you are a teacher in the Citrus County School District who has utilized or would like to utilize the Inwater Research Group Traveling Turtle Trunks within your classes, then tune in to this series on October 20th!

Rebecca Mott is the "turtle"y awesome IRG Director of Education who spearheads this impactful program!

The Marine Science Station and the Citrus County School District have had a great partnership with Rebecca and IRG for many years and we are grateful for their expertise and resources!

If you are a Citrus County School District teacher who would like to check out the IRG traveling turtle trunks we currently have, then email our Science Content Specialist, Mrs. Richardson, and get on the waiting list!

Citrus County Education Foundation

Our October Virtual Series session is Tuesday, October 20. 🐢

Sea turtles in your classroom
6:00 PM ET, about an hour
With Rebecca Mott, Director of Education at Inwater Research Group

Rebecca has a degree in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. She spent her first years after college as a K-5 classroom teacher, then moved into informal education so she could do science and teaching at the same time.

Since 2014 she's run education programs at Inwater Research Group, for students in Florida and well beyond it. Her take: the future of conservation is kids.

She'll cover what Inwater offers teachers and how to get it into your classroom.

Free!

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/FYhWiG04T6GybbY_DLfCQQ

Can't make it live? Register anyway and we'll send follow-up materials.

10/02/2026

Look at these Citrus Springs Middle School Falcons soar! We hosted several groups of CSMS students this week and the days were packed with learning adventures and discoveries! We loved getting them outside into our local estuary to "sea" what's under the surface!
Citrus County School District
Citrus County Education Foundation

09/25/2026

The past two days have been spectacular with these 7th graders from Lecanto Middle School! Science literally comes alive during field experiences like these, whether they're aboard the boats, in the water, atop the tower, or amongst aquariums!
Yesterday, we passed by a boater who slowed down to tell us he visited the Marine Science Station 40 years ago when he was a visiting student from Tavares High School!! Learning memories that last a lifetime!!!
Citrus County School District
Citrus County Education Foundation

09/24/2026

What a terrific Tuesday of trying new things! At least half of these Lecanto Middle School 7th graders had never visited the Marine Science Station in the past nor had they collected and observed such a wide variety of sea life in their local estuary! Building confidence in their scientific sampling and exploration skills was a wonderful thing to "SEA"!!! 😃🌊
Citrus County School District
Citrus County Education Foundation

09/21/2026

Future biologists at work! These Lecanto Middle School 7th grade science students got a feel for field work in our local estuary today!
Dwarf seahorses were the main attraction, along with numerous other species of fish and invertebrates! The students were able to harvest and observe the diversity of life in shallow water seagrass meadows with collection gear as well as view the underwater realm near mangrove swamps with snorkeling gear!
Water quality monitoring was conducted and analyzed by the kids, and the data they collected supported their hypotheses that these habitats are suitable for sustaining sea life!
Citrus County School District
Citrus County Education Foundation

09/16/2026

On September 8th, we hosted these awesome Inverness Middle School 7th graders for outdoor learning experiences as part of their science curriculum! We love learning enrichment like this and we love their smiling faces even more!
Citrus County School District
Citrus County Education Foundation

09/05/2026

We had a great Friday of fun learning adventures at the Citrus County School District's Marine Science Station with these 7th graders from Inverness Middle School! Hands-on, feet-wet learning about the interconnectedness of our local ecosystems builds life long memories!! 💙
Citrus County Education Foundation