Ashley Smith, Leo Pecarina, 8, Scarlett Racki, 11, Felicity Racki, 8 and Joselyne Racki, 18, learn about different marine specimens from Kimberly Scaringe, education specialist at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.
Photo by Ian Swaby
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Four-year-old Landon Varsek was among the children enjoying their time at Bay Fest: Exploring Our Underwater World, spending hours dip netting in the bay without ever asking to go home.
Formerly held in recognition of volunteers in the Sarasota Seagrass Survey, a volunteer-driven survey of the area’s different seagrasses, this year the event served the wider public when it was held on Sept. 23 at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron facility.
“We wanted to open it up and make it more of a public spectacle, and engage kids and people that didn't necessarily participate, but we thought needed to know about seagrass,” said Megan Barry, public outreach manager for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. “We have a lot more of a general public than we have in the past two years, and I’m really excited about that.”
Barry said the goal of the event, a joint effort between Sarasota County and the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, was to offer something for all ages.
Some offerings included the opportunity to see and touch seahorses, spider crabs, pufferfish and more with the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, free kayaking tours with Wayne Adventures and live music by RhythmTrail.
“I thought it was very good,” said Kimberly Scaringe, an education specialist at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium. “I love the kids. They are so curious about so many things that adults don’t notice sometimes. It was well-attended, and it was an absolutely perfect day.”
Izzy Perez, 4, Inka Perez, 7, and Nila Schreiber, 7, discover some stuffed marine friends at the Manatee County Natural Resources stand.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Robby Busick and James Strome, 5, explore a model demonstrating chemical pollutants at Longboat Key Turtle Watch.
Photo by Ian Swaby
An oyster garden hangs at the Oyster Boys Conservation stand.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Natalie Munich of the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute showcases a spider crab to Illyana Recher, 5, and Zavier Recher, 8.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Charlotte Arndt of Arndt Animal Center for Rehabilitation and Environmental Education (AACREE) speaks with Jamie Taylor, 17, and Charlotte Taylor, 16.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Jeremy Jones and Christian Jones, 10, enjoy dip netting in the bay.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Slayter Bigelow, 9, takes his first-ever kayaking trip alongside Wayne Adventures owner Wayne Douchkoff.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Landon Varsek, 4, enjoys the results of the dip netting.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Dana and Maggie Ryba, and Carter Ryba, 5, look explore a model demonstrating chemical pollutants at Longboat Key Turtle Watch.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Ephraim Adams of Rhythm Trail provided live music with steel drums and vocals.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Ashley Smith, Leo Pecarina, 8, Scarlett Racki, 11, Felicity Racki, 8 and Joselyne Racki, 18, learn about different marine specimens from Kimberly Scaringe, education specialist at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Hang Reusch, Lily Reusch, 5, and Justin Reusch enjoy a kayaking trip together.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Vince Marino Kennedy Jeffcoat,1, and Catherine Jeffcoat look in the touch tank at the Oyster Boys Conservation stand.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Anaya Thompson, 5, and Sloane Hendricks, 6, explore the scene at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute stand.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Kayakers head out across the bay in a free kayaking tour offered by Wayne Adventures.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Will Park of Sunshine Community Outpost helped direct all of the trash at the event to the right places.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Ringling College student Sandra Lee, a senior in graphic design from Tennessee, holds the magnet she designed to be offered at the event. As part of the Lazarus Engaged Learning Assistantship program, Lee reached out to the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, whose staff were eager to use her design skills. "I came up with the idea of including a manatee because they're really important to the main ecosystem, as well as the fish and the seagrass," Lee said.
Photo by Ian Swaby
The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute included a selection of marine animals that kept kids intrigued.
Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.
