Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

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The Flower Gardens Banks National Marine Sanctuary, consisting of three separate banks (East, West, and Stetson), are the northernmost coral reefs in the continental United States. Located about 115 miles directly south of the Texas/Louisiana border, they are perched atop salt domes rising above the sea floor.There have been, and continue to be, a variety of research projects on the Flower Garden Banks and Stetson Bank. The isolated nature of the banks, coupled with the unique climatic conditions associated with their geographic location, makes these areas ideal for research.

The Flower Gardens website contains many educational resources and opportunities for professional development. For students, check out the Sanctuary Encyclopedia for critters and plants found at the sanctuary including fishes, corals, sponges, turtles, and crustaceans.They can also check out the section designed specifically for students. Educators can order an “Adaptations from the Depths Curriculum Kit,” which includes a color brochure, video, fact sheet, plus a variety of items intended for use in the classroom. In addition, they have other downloadable activities for teachers to use.

Annual “Down Under, Out Yonder” and “Corals to Classrooms” educational workshops are sponsored by the Gulf of Mexico Foundation and held at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. “Corals to Classrooms” includes 1-1/2 days of land-based lectures. “Down Under, Out Yonder” includes both 1-1/2 days of land-based lectures and 2-1/2 days of diving in the sanctuary with staff and researchers. Participants need not work in a formal classroom setting, but must be involved in educating k-12 students or training personnel who educate k-12 students. For downloadable information and application files, visit the Gulf of Mexico Foundation’s website.