A dolphin suddenly breaks the surface beside the boat, drawing cheers and wide-eyed excitement from a group of local students drifting along the Matanzas River. Minutes later, those same students carefully lean over the rail, testing water quality, collecting plankton samples, and learning firsthand about the marine life living beneath the surface.
For many children aboard, it marks their first direct connection to Northeast Florida’s coastal ecosystem- and exactly the type of experience Florida Water Warriors hopes will create lifelong environmental awareness.
The nonprofit organization was founded by Jessica and Michael Jadick, owners of Florida Water Tours, alongside Master Captain Kevin Jadick and educator Kristie Corrigan. After years spent navigating St. Augustine’s waterways through their charter business, the team recognized an opportunity to transform their boats into floating classrooms dedicated to marine science education and conservation. Rather than simply showing visitors the beauty of the Intracoastal Waterway, the group wanted children and families to actively engage with the environment surrounding them.
Florida Water Warriors now combines eco-tourism, hands-on science education, and environmental advocacy to help students better understand the delicate ecosystems that define Florida’s coastal communities. During guided eco-boat tours, participants study water conditions, examine microscopic organisms, identify native wildlife, and learn how pollution, overdevelopment, and habitat loss impact local waterways. The experiences are intentionally interactive.
Students collect plankton using scientific tools, observe birds and marine mammals in their natural habitat, and discuss the role marshes and estuaries play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Educators also explain how seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and tidal marshes help protect coastlines while supporting fish and wildlife populations throughout the region.
For Jessica Jadick, the mission centers on helping young people develop both knowledge and personal responsibility toward the environment. “We believe that children are our future and it is up to us to teach them about protecting the St. Augustine waterways in order to maintain a healthy marine ecosystem,” Jadick said.
The organization believes conservation starts with education and firsthand experience. By placing students directly on the water, Florida Water Warriors hopes to create stronger emotional connections to the natural world than a traditional classroom setting can often provide. The program also highlights how rapidly growing coastal development continues affecting North Florida’s waterways. Students learn about runoff pollution, habitat disruption, declining water quality, and the long-term importance of protecting estuaries and wetlands throughout the region.
For many children, the tours become more than science lessons. The opportunity to encounter dolphins, birds, fish, and marine organisms in their natural environment often sparks curiosity and excitement that educators hope will continue long after the boat returns to the dock. As Florida’s population continues growing, organizations like Florida Water Warriors aim to ensure future generations understand both the beauty and vulnerability of local waterways.
By turning eco-tours into educational experiences, the nonprofit is helping cultivate a new generation of environmental stewards committed to protecting St. Augustine’s marshes, rivers, and coastal ecosystems for years to come.
For more information on the Florida Water Warriors Project, check out their website here.
