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The Texas Marine Advisory Service’s Floating Classroom Program,
part of the Texas A&M University System, is a public service
program for students in grades four through 12, made possible
partly through your support of MTS events and activities.
Operating out of Matagorda, the Floating Classroom offers students
a unique learning adventure, aboard the R.V. Karma, a
fully-equipped 57-foot teaching and research vessel.
Students spend a day at the facility and onboard the vessel,
participating in a variety of hands-on activities and using an
array of research equipment to collect, identify and analyze
samples and specimen of coastal resources. The vessel’s equipment,
which includes otter trawls, plankton nets, water samplers and
test kits, bottom corers and video enhanced microscopes, allows
students to investigate topics such as marine biology, ecology,
fisheries and environmental impact. Onboard marine educators and
coastal naturalists guide the students and ensure that the program
addresses the students’ interests and understanding ability.
In
addition to the discovery cruise, students generally participate
in a variety of onshore exercises and observations designed to
enhance the boat experience.
MTS Houston Section is helping to fund the Floating Classroom. As
an MTS member/participator, your event sponsorship and involvement
in MTS activities help make this program not only a possibility,
but a reality.
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