The second annual Watershed Explorers Summer Experience, a free, all-inclusive program for teens hosted by Big Waters Land Trust and funded by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program and the Bishop-Parker Foundation, concluded earlier this summer after three weeks of hands-on environmental education, outdoor adventure, and career exploration for 30 youth from Sarasota and Manatee counties. Participants traveled throughout Sarasota Bay, Manatee River, and Myakka River watersheds, exploring ecosystems ranging from coastal habitats to freshwater wetlands while learning about the connections between land use, water quality, local history, and environmental health. For many students, it was their first-time kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, or birdwatching, experiences designed not only to build confidence outdoors but also to foster meaningful connections with Southwest Florida's unique natural resources. Learn more at bigwaterslandtrust.org.