Developing and instituting a shark biology/ ecology program for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center

With the notion of environmental consciousness becoming an integral portion of all levels of academia, it is important that we do not neglect those that are the most impressionable- elementary aged children. This is especially true with the topic of elasmobranch conservation, which much of society still holds a negative stigma. The development of a shark biology/ecology program in partnership with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center can help alleviate these negative connotations by letting students focus on the biology and ecology of sharks and their impact on the surrounding marine ecosystems by means of hands-on activities. To determine if the program was efficient in helping students achieve a better understanding of sharks, pre and post-tests consisting of multiple choice and true/false questions were proctored to participating students. Frequency analysis of different trends were noted and results showed that students were able to grasp the information presented to them due to the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic properties of the activities within the program