Mangroves

We left Bangkok today and headed southwest along the coastline to Samut Songkram, where there is a mangrove conservation area.  In our fall class, the students learned about mangrove ecology and conservation; today we wanted the students to experience mangroves.  We had two activities by which I think they now have an indelible concept about this important ecosystem.

We headed out to the Samut Songkram Mangrove Conservation Area, which is approximately 2 hours SW of Bangkok.

Longtailed macaques watched as we passed toward shallower areas where we found a somewhat dry area in which to plant mangrove saplings.

Getting out of the boat proved a little more challenging than the students anticipated.

Each student got two saplings to plant.  They just needed to find a spot where there was nothing growing and plant them.

But getting there was not easy.

Small feet is a handicap when walking through soft mud at low tide as Alex and Alyssa are finding out.

Here's Katie getting help with extraction.

Emily and Franny.

Annie nearly bottomed out.

Jaimie, Rebecca, Savannah, and Blaire showing that this is a hands-on experience.

Luke and Colin.

Jaime.

Mud-slinging threatened to start, but cooler heads prevailed.

Everyone took turn at the cleaning station before being allowed back in the boat.  We might have destroyed more mangrove trees than we planted, but being able to experience this ecosystem in this way was worth it.  They'll remember it forever and can pass on their first-hand experience and concern for mangrove conservation to the next generation.

After planting mangroves, we spent an hour kayaking through them.

Anna and Franny.

Max and Colin.

Annie and Emily.

Getting a close look at the mangroves are ... Jaime and Savannah.

Blaire and Rebecca.

Gabby and Abby.

After kayaking, we had lunch at an open-ocean platform.

Each of four tables had the same spread: Tom yum soup, fried sea bass, phad Thai, chicken wings, stir fried mixed vegetables, and cashew chicken, with pineapple, watermelon, and dragonfruit for desert. Mmmm.