As a precursor to the events on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Atlanta Reef Club will be hosting a diving trip to the Georgia Coast to visit Gray's Reef. Two groups will leave Wednesday afternoon to arrive at the coast Wednesday evening. One group will be a teen group, who will spend time in the facility, sleep in the dorms, go to the shore, ride in pontoon boats and possibly try kayaking - all activities on top of the water. The other group will be divers who will stay in hotels and actually go out to Gray's Reef all day Thursday. Both groups will come back on Friday for the actual start of SWU.

Teen Outreach Program and Sponsorship
One the outreach programs set forth in the SWU2 program is to help teens from families that may not have the means to experience a trip like this. We are readily accepting sponsor money that will go toward allowing a teen attend this trip. This activity helps put ecological preservation at the forefront of the minds of the next generation, an important step in the long term sustainability of ocean ecosystems.

Details
The student trip to Gray’s reef will depart Atlanta after school on Wednesday, May 3rd and travel east to Savannah, Georgia. During this time, adult leaders will provide students with an overview of the coastal area, the ocean and the Gray’s Reef System and Sanctuary. Student accommodations will be at the University of Georgia (Marine Education Center and Aquarium) dorms on Skidway Island.

On Thursday, May 4th, students will depart for Darien, where they will explore the lower Altamaha River Watershed by pontoon boat. Next, they will travel to Sapelo Island via Ferry and meet with the education staff of Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve. Together they will explore the estuaries, marshes and Gray’s Reef.

On Friday, May 5th, students will travel to the ocean with the staff of UGA- MECA and Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary to explore the effects of trawling on the seabed, to discuss water quality issues and to better understand the marine research conducted at UGA. On the return trip to Atlanta, students will reflect on their experience by viewing Rivers to Reefs.

On Saturday and Sunday, May 6th and 7th, students will attend numerous talks on coral reefs, coastal research, aquatic husbandry, and the behavior of sharks, skates and rays, among many others.

The Gray's reef expedition can accompany a maximum of 20 students with 5 volunteer adult chaperones. It is our hope that at least 50% of the participants will be underserved teens and that the remaining group will participate at a much reduced rate. The Atlanta Reef Club will be reaching out to local Atlanta public and private schools. Teachers in the Club will also be encouraging interested and talented students in their county to consider applying for the program.

About Gray's Reef
"Gray's Reef is a submerged hard bottom (limestone) area that, as compared to surrounding areas, contains extensive but discontinuous rock outcropping of moderate ( 6 to 10 feet) height with sandy, flat-bottomed troughs between. The series of rock ledges and sand expanses has produced a complex habitat of caves, burrows, troughs, and overhangs that provide a solid base for the abundant sessile invertebrates to attach and grow. This rocky platform with its carpet of attached organisms is known locally as a "live bottom habitat". This topography supports an unusual assemblage of temperate and tropical marine flora and fauna. Algae and invertebrates grow on the exposed rock surfaces: dominant invertebrates include sponges, barnacles, sea fans, hard coral, sea stars, crabs, lobsters, snails, and shrimp. The reef attracts numerous species of benthic and pelagic fish, including black sea bass, snapper, grouper, and mackerel." (NOAA)

Read more from NOAA's Gray's Reef Natural Marine Santuary website.