2024 Florida Keys & Everglades: Day 4
Hello parents and Bullis community,
Our 7th graders spent the morning as a full group at the Theater of the Sea, learning about the indigenous creatures of the Florida Keys. Students were educated about the differences between saltwater crocodiles and freshwater American alligators—although, when it came to feeding time, it was hard to tell them apart: both heads snapped back and all jaws chomped shut with power. We observed rehabilitated Loggerhead sea turtles and seals. We ended our visit with a 20-minute educational show starring 7 of the most intelligent Macaws and Cockatoos, who wowed us by completing puzzles and solving 5th grade subtraction problems.
Our afternoon spent at The Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital in Marathon was truly inspiring; students were educated about rescued Hawksbill, Loggerhead, Green, and the endangered Kemp Ridley Sea Turtles, which are born a dark black color but later turn pale and white as adults. We were awed that Leatherback Sea Turtles, although rare in The Keys because the water is too shallow and warm, can be as large as a Volkswagen Beetle!!
From the marine medical staff, students discovered firsthand the importance of keeping garbage out of the oceans by viewing the X-rays and scans of turtles that have ingested trash. We also found out their shells are made of keratin, just like our fingernails, and are extremely sensitive, so when they are hit by motorboats, it causes severe damage to their structure and ability to submerge, a condition called Bubble Butt. These turtle patients are clearly in good hands, as The Turtle Hospital has released over 3,000 healthy turtles since its opening in 1986. Some of our students even had a chance to sponsor or adopt a sea turtle!
Tomorrow holds an early wake-up in order to reach our appointment in the Everglades. Fingers crossed for a smooth travel day and an on-time arrival into BWI at 9:10 p.m. on Southwest flight 2727 tomorrow!
And from our travel journalists again:
As we entered into the parrot show we saw all the vibrantly colored parrots on their swinging wooden perches. The ear-splitting macaws of the coral-colored parrots leave a sound ringing in our ears. They showed off their intelligence by solving difficult puzzles. What was most amazing was that they could do simple math, which was subtraction and addition with a bell. They used their razor-sharp beaks to crack open macadamia nuts with no struggle. - Laila B. '29 & Chloe B. '29
The key lime-colored building showed a bright sign of a woven rope around a drawn turtle. We enter through the shiny glass doors to see walls laced with shells like jigsaw puzzles. We talk for a while, then enter into a room with a window to the surgery center. As you look through the window you see amazing technology that seems as if it belongs in a museum. As time passes, we continue to saunter around and look at turtles that have been rescued. Seeing their injuries and learning about their smooth recoveries brings interest to the class. Before we are dropped off into a lively gift shop where we adopt turtles. The sweet ring of the adoption bell is a sweet end to our day. - Gabi H. '29
The eye was a dusty-pink stale tapioca bubble. My throat yelped as the tasteless marble crawled down it. The mantle felt as though it were covered with a thick film of gooey mucus. The squid's organs squelched upon the touch. The group let out a groan of disgust all in unison as we cut the open the squid with a pair of scissors. Never in a million years did we think that we would be cutting open, interacting with, and eating the eye lenses of a viscous squid carcass. - Will O. '29 & Own T. '29
Best,
The 7th grade Florida crew
