St. Petersburg Housing Authority Organized Youth Kayaking Field Trip
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (JUNE 2, 2026) - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) organized a kayaking field trip for youth living in SPHA communities. Hosted in partnership with Tampa Bay Watch, the experience introduced students to real-world environmental challenges while encouraging curiosity about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers.
The event was held on May 29, 2026, at the Tampa Bay Watch Marine & Education Center in Tierra Verde, Florida. Youth paddled through Shell Key Preserve with mangrove forests, seagrass flats, and shallow waters teeming with marine life.
The kayaking field trip was part of SPHA's Gulf Futures 3D initiative, a grant-funded STEM program designed to build scientific and environmental literacy among youth in SPHA communities. Through hands-on learning experiences, students investigate real-world environmental challenges facing the Gulf Coast and develop creative solutions using emerging technology.
The mission of SPHA's Gulf Futures 3D initiative is to empower students through a dynamic blend of classroom learning and place-based experiences that ignite curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving through the use of 3D technologies.
"At SPHA, we are committed to creating opportunities that expand horizons for our youth," said Michael Lundy, SPHA President and CEO. "This field trip combines education, exploration, and real-world experience in a way that can inspire lifelong interest in STEM and environmental stewardship."
"This experience gives our youth the chance to step into real-world learning and see themselves in roles they may not have imagined before," said Kiara Lovett, SPHA's Director of Social Services. "It's about building confidence, sparking curiosity, and helping them understand that they can be part of meaningful solutions in their community."
SPHA's Gulf Futures 3D initiative is funded through a $740,860 grant from the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
Projects within the Gulf Futures 3D initiative are being guided by SPHA's partners, including The Sanderlin Center, SelfCAD, St. Petersburg College (SPC), and Tampa Bay Watch. Youth are applying STEM skills to community-driven projects, pinpointing local environmental challenges and designing innovative 3D solutions.
The National Academies' Gulf Research Program (GRP) is an independent, science-based program founded in 2013 as part of legal settlements with the companies involved in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. The GRP's mission is to develop, translate, and apply science to enhance the safety of offshore energy, the environment, and the well-being of the people of the Gulf region for generations to come.
SPHA is the leading affordable housing provider in the city of St. Petersburg, serving more than 4,000 low-income households. SPHA's mission is to provide safe, sanitary, accessible, decent, and affordable housing to eligible citizens of the city of St. Petersburg, while enhancing and promoting resident self-sufficiency.
For more information about SPHA's Gulf Futures 3D initiative, contact: [email protected]
St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) youth kayaking field trip, hosted in partnership with Tampa Bay Watch, on May 29, 2026.
View photos and video clips on Facebook: www.facebook.com/StPeteHA/posts/1438418318325932
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ABOUT THE ST. PETERSBURG HOUSING AUTHORITY (SPHA):
An independent quasi-governmental entity and a political subdivision of the State of Florida, operating under Chapter 421 Florida Statutes, SPHA is the local administrative agency for housing assistance programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). SPHA offers a variety of programs and services that provide affordable rental housing to low-income families, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities in the greater St. Petersburg region. For more information, visit www.stpeteha.org.
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