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07/16/2026

St. Petersburg Housing Authority Organizing Youth Snorkeling Field Trip

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (JULY 16, 2026) - The St. Petersburg Housing Authority (SPHA) is organizing a snorkeling field trip for youth living in SPHA communities. Hosted in partnership with Tampa Bay Watch, the experience will introduce students to real-world environmental challenges while inspiring an interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Event Details:

  • Date: Monday, July 27, 2026
  • Time: 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Drop-Off Location: The Legacy at Jordan Park, 2350 9th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712
  • Destination Location: Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, St. Pete Pier

The snorkeling field trip is 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 and creativity with 3D technologies.

"At SPHA, we are committed to creating opportunities that expand horizons for our youth," said Michael Lundy, SPHA President and CEO. "Through partnerships with organizations like Tampa Bay Watch, our Gulf Futures 3D initiative provides young people with meaningful opportunities to explore STEM, connect with the environment, and develop skills that can prepare them for future career opportunities."

"This field trip gives our youth the opportunity to learn by doing," said Kiara Lovett, SPHA Director of Social Services. "By exploring Tampa Bay's marine environment firsthand, students gain a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship while building confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills that will benefit them both in and out of the classroom."

SPHA's Gulf Futures 3D Program is funded through a $740,860 grant from the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Projects for 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. It supports innovative science, guides data design and monitoring, and builds and sustains networks to generate long-term benefits for the Gulf region and the nation.

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].

 

Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center, St. Pete Pier.

 

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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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