Florida: Florida Aquatic Preserves

Protecting and preserving the crucial native ecosystems of coastal islands

Community Partner: Florida Aquatic Preserves

Trip Dates: March 14-21, 2026

Location: St. Petersburg, Florida

Number of Participants: 10

Price: $500

Included in participant fee:

All logistical and travel expenses: Roundtrip transportation (roundtrip flight to Tampa, Florida), rental vehicles for local transportation (damage/insurance coverage included), and overnight lodging for entire week at a local Airbnb.
Project/service fees OR donation to community partner for facilitating week of service/alternative break experience.
Buck-I-SERV supplies/swag: Individual items (t-shirts, water bottles, and pens for each group member) and group items (first aid kit, disinfecting wipes, hand sanitizer, deck of playing cards, and thank you card for community partner).
Buck-I-SERV Events and Training: Winter Kick-Off and Welcome Back events with catering and pre-trip education and training.
Some meals and group activities: The group will be provided a small budget to use for group meals and group activities. Participants should plan to bring money for out of pocket expenses.

Travel and housing:

Participants will travel to and from Tampa, Florida.
Upon arrival in Tampa the group will pick up rental vehicles to use for transportation throughout the week.
Housing for the trip is TBD, but will likely be a cabin at a local campground or Airbnb.
- Please note that service housing provides a unique opportunity to build community and embrace simplicity, often staying in welcoming spaces like religious buildings or community centers. While accommodations may be rustic—such as sleeping on cots or air mattresses, making use of community kitchens and showers, and limited hot water for showers—they foster meaningful connections and a deeper focus on service and reflection.
A packing list will be provided to participants and discussed during pre-trip meetings leading up to departure.

What to expect:

Much of Florida’s distinctive character lies in the beauty of its coastline. The best of the coastal landscapes have been set aside for protection as aquatics preserves.
Aquatics preserves protect the living waters of Florida to ensure that they will always be home for bird rookeries, fish nurseries, freshwater springs, salt marshes, sea grass meadows, and mangrove forests.
Students have the opportunity to work with the removal of invasive plants, such as the Brazilian Red Pepper and Carrotwood, and to remove debris from spoil islands.
Students also assist in trail maintenance and coastline clean-up.