(ALVA, FL - Feb. 5, 2026) – On a cool morning along the Caloosahatchee River, the arrival of the yellow school buses at the W.P Franklin Visitor Center signaled more than just another field trip. Nearly 40 students from East Lee County and Dunbar High Schools stepped off ready to explore how science connects to real-world careers with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Jacksonville District.
This science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)-focused day in the field offered something beyond textbooks or classroom experiments — a firsthand look at how science, engineering, and public service come together to protect Florida’s ecosystems and waterways.
The day began with Megan Parsons, Acting Lead Park Ranger, encouraging students to reexamine the plants around them. Native or invasive? Helpful or harmful?
Biology quickly moved from theory to purpose as students learned how native plants support entire ecosystems and how invasive species can disrupt waterways, wildlife, and even local economies.
Jessica “Skippy” Martin, an Invasive Species Biologist, took students deeper into Lake Okeechobee’s aquatic plant management efforts. She explained how managing invasive vegetation is vital for maintaining navigation routes, preserving habitats, and ensuring ecological balance. STEM, she noted, is not just about data or equations — it’s about decisions that sustain entire communities.
Lee Martin, a USACE Biologist, showcased native and invasive wildlife species and shared techniques for identifying them. For many students, this hands-on exploration revealed how protecting a single plant or animal can have a lasting impact on an entire ecosystem.
Engineering concepts came to life at the W.P. Franklin Lock, where Jason Pritt, Lock Operator explained how physics, math, and environmental stewardship work together to manage navigation and water flow. John Miracle, USACE volunteer and former lock mechanic demonstrated practical problem-solving, inviting students to calculate the volume of water moving through the lock — a vivid reminder of how STEM principles operate in the real world and that those dreaded algebra equations really do have a day job.
“Throughout the visit, students were encouraged to ask questions about career paths, educational requirements and our day-to-day responsibilities, gaining insight into the wide range of STEM careers with USACE,” said Parsons. By seeing professionals in action, they discovered that meaningful STEM careers are not far away — they’re in their own communities, like right here on the banks of Lake Okeechobee.
Stephen Ford, Student College and Career Navigator, The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools and field trip facilitator noted “It is important to show the students about the different opportunities that are available to them, especially here locally, and what education may be required to get into said career.”
The field trip’s most memorable moments came during interactive sessions such as the invasive species presentation and outdoor scavenger hunt, where laughter and curiosity blended with lessons and learning. It was clear that science wasn’t confined to a lab — it was all around them, in the soil, the water, and within the teamwork that drives environmental stewardship.
Events like this show how exposure to STEM in action can shape futures. A student who sees engineers managing a lock might imagine designing sustainable systems; another might feel inspired to protect endangered species or pursue environmental science.
“It was amazing for the students to learn about how STEM goes into taking care of everything from the ecosystems to the locks,” said Ford. “Megan and the team did an amazing job, the students enjoyed it.”
Where science meets service, tomorrow’s workforce is already taking shape — one field trip, one question, and one inspired student at a time.
For more news, updates and information visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District district’s website at www.saj.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Jacksonvilledistrict, and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JaxStrong.