Carefree Learner

The Carefree Learner usually serves as a floating marine classroom. A net is pulled, and a variety of species are placed into onboard aquariums for study before being returned to the bay.

Here, the Carefree Learner serves as a ferry in Roberts Bay for volunteers working on the Oyster Bed restoration project.

Caspersen Beach (113 acres)
In partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Sarasota County Natural Resources, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Native Plant Society.

11th grade students from the Out-of-Door Academy clear dead Brazilian Pepper trees, from the north end of Caspersen on the east side of the beach road and pick up trash along the roadsides and beach. The peppers had been killed by spraying with an herbicide. When the area is cleared seedlings of native plants will be planted, and the area will be monitored for any new growth of peppers. ALS volunteers have been doing similar work throughout the Caspersen area since 1999.

Native plants regain a foothold: beach sunflower, prickly pear cactus, railroad vine, red cedar, sea grapes, cabbage palm, necklace pod, sea oats.

Palmer Point (30+ acres) With help from Sarasota County Natural Resources, the Selby Foundation, Friends of Oscar Scherer State Park, and a local homeowner...
1993 - Looking north. Australian Pines almost hide the buildings at Turtle Beach and are progressing across the dunes from the bay side to the high-tide area of the gulf.
2001 - Looking north. Australian Pines have been removed up to the private property, native dune grasses have returned, and the dune has grown several feet higher.
Exotic tree invasions - mainly Australian Pine and Brazilian Pepper - crowd out native plant species and thus reduce the diversity of native plants and wildlife. Many native plants, such as Red Mangrove, play a vital role in the local ecosystem as a source of food, a sink for excess nutrients and pollution, a soil stabilizer, and a buffer against storms. Native plants sprouted from locally collected seeds and grown by ALS volunteers. When the plants are large enough to survive on their own, they are planted in reclaimed areas. Because Australian Pine and Brazilian Pepper readily germinate and can grow up to 10 feet a year, cleared areas must be constantly monitored to remove any new growth.