We were able to get a spot at Marine Quest this year. We had a great time learning about phytoplankton at our first station. 
We got to see some really cool microscopes including one that does 3-D imagines and another that is a scanning electron microscope! 
I was fascinated with the section on the Florida Duck. It looks like a mallard but it isn’t! I know how to tell them apart now! :)Â 
We learned how to use cameras with laser dots to measure parts of the feathers to determine the bird type without catching the birds. 
We learned about forensics and sharks with a fun ID station. There were some touch tanks too that I wanted to spend more time with. 
Our last station was the oysters and learning about ocean acidification. 
I love our 4-H club so much! We get to do some awesome things! 
I had to go to the leaders meeting with Mom and I had fun making sticker art and playing with my new Toucan. 
This weekend was the state mock marine event. It wasn’t a contest as there were no awards or ribbons. We all got a golden scallop for participating! :)Â 
I only missed one item and it was the snow crab again. We worked so hard on it but I got confused. I know what I need to work on for next year! 
We also worked on our club box to go to Kenya! We are going to be pen-pals with a club in Africa! How cool! 
At archery we made our own targets to shoot at in November! 
I got a great photo of Uno, the squirrel!
I learned that I really like seafood. Grandma Susie joined us at Red Lobster since Dad was in DC again. I ate off Mom’s plate after mine was done. I had popcorn shrimp, butterfly shrimp, clam strips, bay scallops and cheddar biscuits! Mom was shocked with how much food i ate!
We wrapped up the week with some more fishing and celebrating our marine club ending for the year. Again, no fish were caught! 
Again I spent most of the time playing with the shrimp in the bait bucket. 
And netting seaweed and looking for marine life in the floating clumps.