In the Lab: The Little Wetland

Children come face-to-face with the living flora of Big Cypress - including aquatic carnivorous plants - then construct a miniature wetland. In the Lab: The Little Wetland brings children face-to-face with living swamp flora, including aquatic carnivorous plants. Children study the plants in individual aquariums, then come together to create a miniature living wetland in a shallow vessel. Designed for children ages 4-8, with one accompanying adult per child, this hands-on workshop teaches children the ecological intimacy of a swamp, with none of the physical inconveniences. All materials and scientific tools are provided. Comfortable clothing suitable for working with water is recommended, along with a water flask. About the instructor Sasha Sikaffy: Sasha S. Sikaffy, M.S., is an environmental scientist and educator informed by years spent in coral reef fieldwork and marine science education. Her work considers how children come to know the living world through direct ecological encounter—attention to living systems, intimacy with place, and sustained contact with the more-than-human world. In The Lab is her ongoing study of South Florida ecology, in which children engage with living organisms, biological specimens, and scientific instruments across field and lab settings. This is a non-refundable event. Children must be accompanied by an adult.