CEELAB is extensively engaged in community outreach and education. We have worked with hundreds of K-12 educators and thousands of children in central Florida by having UCF students share marine biology information with children in classroom settings, at camps, STEAM nights, etc.
Events in 2023
In 2023, we held our 15th annual UCF mangrove educator’s workshop in Canaveral National Seashore with 32 teachers. We shared lots of good information on mangroves, the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), and UCF outreach opportunities, and then we motored on boats to collect propagules. That was followed by collecting materials for growing mangroves with classes that represent many K-12 schools for 6 counties in central Florida. Participating counties include Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Brevard, Polk, and Lake. We collect all these mangroves from the schools in May to be used for shoreline restoration projects in future years.
Most recently, we partnered with The Arc in Vero Beach, a center for adults with learning disabilities in which individuals help with hands-on activities making restoration materials.
In past years, we have collaborated with PedsAcademy at Nemours Children’s Hospital and have hospitalized children participate in our research as citizen scientists.
Outreach products created by CEELAB to expand our impact:
- Oyster storytelling yoga
- Ten children’s books on conservation topics (age ranges: 3 – adult)
- Newest book release: Please Keep Plastics Out of My Lagoon!
Fact sheets: