Notes from Around Campus

exploring God's creation together on

Jekyll Island

Field trips are always a favorite part of the FPD lower school experience. Hands-on, interactive education brings classroom studies to life, while educational travel strengthens relationships and friendships. The fourth grade trip to Jekyll Island is a highly anticipated field trip because it’s the first overnight excursion for FPD students. Since last year’s trip was cancelled due to COVID precautions, FPD’s fourth and fifth graders had the joy of going this

year.

“Field trips provide some of the best opportunities for students to see in real life what they are learning in the classroom,” notes Shannon Bryant, Lower School Principal. “The trip to Jekyll Island allows the students to explore all of the beach and marsh ecology on Georgia’s coast plus building teamwork through several different class activities. We were excited that we

could offer it to both our fourth and fifth

graders this year.” The Jekyll Island 4H Center welcomed students with a variety of activities to study marsh, maritime forests, and beach ecology.

A top highlight was the marsh ecology excursion. Donning mud boots and old clothes, students got messy in the marsh exploring the ecosystem and learning about the importance of the marsh as a flood plain.

Later, students trekked in the maritime forest to identify native plants from resurrection ferns to live oaks and

palmettos. Students learned how these plants have adapted to life close to the ocean and discovered how the forest

progressively changes further inland.

No trip to Georgia’s barrier islands would be complete without a beach ecology walk. Students studied the importance of the dunes as habitats and barriers. They discussed weather events and erosion and wrapped up with seining for ocean organisms. “My favorite thing about Jekyll Island was seining,” remembers fifth grader Ella Wade Shields. “It was my favorite because I caught cool sea creatures with my friends.”

The evenings were spent competing in sand sculpture competitions that included an animal sculpture along with that animal’s habitat and food source. A

nighttime beach walk rounded out the day, complete with stargazing and planet viewing.

“This trip brings to life many of the things we study in science during the spring,” noted FPD elementary science teacher Jessica Hinson. “Everything on Jekyll Island is one big classroom and students love to be outside exploring together.”