Pictured Above: Peyton Lebron combined his photography skills with his passion for marine science during a trip to the Florida Aquarium.
Courtesy of Peyton Lebron
By Annalise Anderson
Education, preservation and – most importantly – adventure are at the top of the to-do list for students of USF St. Petersburg’s Marine Adventures Club.
The Marine Adventures Club is centered around marine science, but hosts opportunities for students of all majors to get involved and explore their interests in aquatic environments.
Club meetings, now being held virtually, usually include member presentations called “Creature Features.” Topics include marine organisms, ecosystems and ocean preservation. Of course, time is reserved for group discussion and friendly discourse at the end of every presentation.
Before the pandemic, the club would gather at the campus boathouse to go kayaking in the Tampa Bay. The group would bring trash bags to collect litter during their adventure. Unfortunately, COVID-19 has forced the club into halting outdoor group activities for the time being.
Club President Peyton Lebron has been a member of the club since fall 2019. Currently a sophomore environmental science and policy major, he will be switching his major to marine biology since consolidation provided broader class offerings.
Courtesy of Peyton Lebron
Appointed to his position earlier this year, Lebron aims to find new ways to share the club with other students. He hopes to rebrand the club’s mission “to help educate everyone about the great things about our oceans, how important they are and about ocean conservation.”
Studying marine science “just kind of clicked” for Lebron.
“Since I was a kid, I’ve always loved the water, I’ve always loved animals and I’ve always had an affinity for marine life,” Lebron said.
After spotting a Marine Adventures Club flyer on campus, he eagerly attended his first meeting and was “hooked.”
Aside from members’ common interests in marine science, Lebron’s favorite part about being in the club is the comradery.
“We all just have a good time,” Lebron said. “We try not to take it too seriously. If we have extra time at the end of meetings, we’ll show each other funny videos, memes… It’s just a really good group of people.”
Samantha D’Angelo, a sophomore marine biology major at USF St. Petersburg, joined the club this semester.
“I joined the Marine Adventures Club because I wanted to get involved with the school and to see what connections the club had to marine research centers in the area,” D’Angelo said in an email to The Crow’s Nest. “… I like how inviting everyone is and how we all share a love for marine life and the environment. Students should get involved because it is a great way to make friends and to continue learning outside of the classroom.”
Cassidy Delbango is also a sophomore marine biology major and newcomer to the club.
Courtesy of Cassidy Delbango
“What I like most about the club is how friendly everyone is and the presentations we do,” Delbango said in an email to The Crow’s Nest. “I love to learn new things and this club is a great opportunity to do so.”
“Anyone who’s interested in both marine science and environmental issues should join this club. It’s a great way to talk about the issues and learn new things. We hope to be able to do in-person events soon, such as beach cleanups and aquarium field trips.”
Delbango recently invited Savannah Gandee, a marine biologist at Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA), to guest speak at an upcoming Marine Adventures Club event.
“I decided to reach out to CMA because I thought it would be a fun, socially distant event that lots of people can enjoy,” Delbango said in an email to The Crow’s Nest. “CMA is pretty famous, so getting a guest speaker like this is a great way to bring exposure to the club as well.”
The event will be held Dec. 7 from 5 to 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Those interested in attending can scan a QR code on the event flyer to RSVP and receive the Zoom meeting link.
For the remainder of the fall semester, the Marine Adventures Club will meet every Monday at 5:30 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. There will be no meeting the week of Thanksgiving. Its regular meeting time may change in spring and will be determined at the start of the semester.
Find the Marine Adventures Club on Petesync, Facebook and Instagram at @macusfsp.
