Junior Rangers Lionfish Field Trip!

We recently took the junior rangers out on a field trip to learn about the invasive lionfish that are eating everything on the reefs, and what we do to try and control their populations (shoot them!).  I used scuba below while the kids snorkeled on the surface and watched me catch lionfish (well, only one small one that day).  We also saw lots of pretty corals, a nurse shark, and a sting ray!

Explaining how to use a hawaiian sling

Getting in the water!

Underwater Hi-Five

Bubbles! 

Checking out the catch of the day

Of course there is always time for flipping off the boat!

Love these kids!

For those of you wondering what a lionfish looks like.  This one was really tiny! Underwater they look much more beautiful (and bigger too!)

Dissection time! 

Future marine biologists in the making: "Can I look inside the mouth? Can I touch the heart? Can I hold it? Eeww! Coooool."  I was so proud! (and yes, we had already cut off the poisonous spines at this point)