Kids love our “critter getter” program where they collect interesting sea creatures (sea stars, sea cucumbers, sea horses, snails, etc.) by wading at low tide when the animals are trapped in tidal pools or shallow waters. Snorkeling or swimming skills are not needed. But beach shoes (not flip flops) are necessary.

The kids and adults who want to help are given nets and buckets. The captain gives a brief instruction about where to find the animals and methods of collecting without harming any animals. After awhile, the buckets are brought back to the boat or the shore where the captain has set up a portable lab with magnifiers for viewing tiny animals. Kids are told what they can and can’t hold with bare hands. They learn about feeding methods and food, defense mechanisms, camouflage, habitat, and phylum classifications. This activity is educational and fun for all ages! After the show and tell session, kids are shown how to safely release the animals.

If you are planning to go critter gettin' and want to know when low tide is at Indian Key, log on to www.saltwatertides.com/dynamic.dir/floridakeyssites:html#indian. Enter your desired charter date and find the low tide for that day.

More critter photos can be seen in our Photo Gallery!