Emerald & Forgotten Coast Adventures, Inc

★★★★★Brooke Worrell

I am writing to express how incredibly impactful the marine science camp (in June) was for my 12-year-old daughter. From day one, her enthusiasm was constant. She eagerly recounted her daily adventures to me and her grandparents, showcasing her deep engagement with the program. Her excitement truly culminated on day two when she declared, 'As soon as it comes open next year we gotta tell our science teacher,' hoping to apply again! This non-profit's meticulous organization and planning truly paid off, fostering such genuine interest and excitement from a middle school preteen. Thank you for your immense effort in creating such an outstanding summer marine science camp. I sincerely hope more of the community becomes aware of how amazing this non-profit is, the incredible value it brings to our youth, and provides support for the organization to continue putting on fantastic programs such as these.

★★★★★Jill Hansen

We are beyond grateful to work with Jon, Brittany, and the amazing team at Emerald and Forgotten Coast Adventures! They’ve given thousands of our students across the district unforgettable field trip experiences this year — and every one of them has been safe, well-organized, and packed with fun. Students get to meet all kinds of cool coastal critters, dive into hands-on activities, and learn so much about marine science in a variety of ecosystems. Best of all, everything they do is tied to our learning standards, making it a win-win for kids and teachers!

★★★★★Raquel Sanders

Our 3rd graders said "This is the best field trip ever." Students loved all the hands-on and standards base activities. All the staff from Emerald & Forgotten Coast Adventures are very knowlageable, helpful, and do an amazing job to get students to love science.

★★★★★Lori DiPaola

We went with the team to St Andrews State Park on Thursday 11/21/24. I was so impressed with their enthusiasm, organization and wonderful “ stations” they created for the 4th graders ( approximately 90 who attended). Such a vital experience for those children to get out of the classroom and have hands on learning right there on the shore. Jon Schmidt is a committed, tireless, professional, fun and joyful person with whom the children and volunteers connect with instantly . All of this he does on his own time , dedicating so many hours all because of his love of this fragile environment. Having this educational program continue on is so valuable to the community and such a powerful way to equip the next generation to understand the importance of protecting and preserving their shores.

★★★★★Ed Lyons

I have 31 years of experience leading kids on exciting outdoor science field trips and museum visits, and I can confidently say that this has been one of the most rewarding experiences for my students! The wetlands of the panhandle are a fantastic natural resource, and thanks to this organization’s efforts, my students have gained a deeper appreciation for the ecology of our area. Thank you for making such a positive impact!