April 15, 2026 update: dates offered for the 4-H Senior events have been changed. The following article reflects current changes and will be updated later with new date and registration information when available.
Explore Tampa Bay’s Underwater Ecosystems – the 4-H “Map Quest: Scallop Habitats” Series
The University of Florida’s School of Forest, Fisheries and Geomatics Sciences is partnering with Hillsborough and Pinellas counties extension offices to bring you Map Quest: Scallop Habitats.
This immersive, science-based adventure is being offered to high school students or 4-H seniors through the generous support of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program’s Bay Mini-Grants.
Participants will learn about the importance of Bay Scallops to the Tampa Bay ecosystem, practice kayaking skills, use traditional and remote sensing methods to collect data to map the underwater environment, analyze geospatial data to identify potential scallop habitat locations, and learn how scientists, surveyors, and mappers solve real world problems with maps.
How to Participate
We invite all youth ages 14-18 to attend this exciting workshop where you will learn about Bay Scallops and their habitat, while collecting underwater data, and applying GIS and remote sensing geospatial skills to solve real world problems!
For youth who are unable to attend or who are ages 11-13, keep an eye on upcoming events!
What: Senior Map Quest: Scallop Habitats workshop
Who: Youth ages 14-18 (you do not have to be currently enrolled in 4-H!)
When: May 9 all day workshop (additional dates for 4-H intermediates and an additional date for 4-H seniors coming soon)
Where: Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, Apollo Beach, FL
How: register (https://2026seniormapquest.4honline.com/) to attend. Space is limited!
More opportunities are coming soon!
The Map Quest: Scallop Habitats program also supports a set of upcoming workshops for middle school students, or 4-H Intermediates scheduled for June 16 and 18. Keep an eye out for registration information coming soon. The program also promotes participation in the Great Bay Scallop Search at the end of the summer. Watch for exciting updates and opportunities coming soon.
This project was made possible by the Tampa Bay Estuary Programs’ Bay Mini-Grants, which is partially supported by purchases of the “Tarpon Tag” license plate. If you have a “Tarpon Tag,” we appreciate your support of this project and others for environmental restoration and education! Remember that applications are accepted annually for non-profits, businesses, and educational institutions working on projects in the Tampa Bay watershed.
Learn more about the UF School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences (SFFGS) Geomatics Extension program here. Contact Katie Britt, assistant director for UF/IFAS Geomatics Extension at the University of Florida’s School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences. Reach her at k.britt@ufl.edu.
Our mission is to provide surveying education and workforce development programs to both the Florida surveying industry and the public.
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