Freedom Boat Club contributes boat usage, captains access to Florida Southern College

As part of a special educational partnership between Freedom Boat Club’s corporate headquarters and Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla., the Biology of Fishes class recently embarked on a unique field trip to the Manatee River, led by biology professors Dr. Bryan Franks and Dr. Laura Habegger.

Students joined Freedom Boat Club’s licensed Coast Guard captains aboard a fleet of late model boats where they were escorted on area waterways to learn and practice a variety of fish sampling methods, including seine netting, cast netting and dip netting.

”Thanks to this generous arrangement with Freedom Boat Club, our students can now explore a wide variety of marine habitats and ecosystems along southwest Florida’s gulf coast,” said Dr. Franks. “This trip allowed our students to enjoy a day out on the water and exposed them to the sampling techniques they have been reading about in class.

“Freedom Boat Club’s support will allow us to better facilitate engaged learning experiences for our growing program, which currently has almost 90 students,” he added. “This partnership enables us to accommodate larger groups on field trips, giving everyone the opportunity to get up-close and personal with marine life in the gulf.”

Added Freedom Boat Club President and CEO John Giglio, “We’re very pleased to be able to give back and to support Florida Southern College and to benefit students who are studying marine habitats. We’re enthusiastic to help facilitate the marine and boating experience and hope our contributions prove valuable in bringing classroom studies to life.”

Freedom Boat Club will be supporting the school’s marine biology program in ongoing educational endeavors throughout the year.

For more information, visit www.freedomboatclub.com.

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