www.pigeonkey.net

Although Pigeon Key has seen many uses, it's currently engaged to provide marine science education programs for middle and high school aged students as well as marine research opportunities for post-secondary education institutions and other national and local agencies.

More than 1,000 school-aged children pass through our programs each year and we hope that you too will soon do the same.

Education

Pigeon Key's education teams consists of well educated members versed in biology and other various marine sciences and are professionals while at the same time serve as instruments of fun to keep the students and teachers we serve involved, invigorated and interested!

The following is a brief list of current programs all students may choose to participate in:

~ Pigeon Key History & Tour              ~ Squid Anatomy (Dissection)

~ Nocturnal Adaptations                    ~ Shark Anatomy (Dissection)

~ Reef Fish Identification                   ~ Reef Fish Challenge (Fish Jeopardy)

~ Invertebrate Labs                           ~ Plankton Labs

~ Conservation Town Meetings          ~ Marine Habitats of the FL Keys

~ Seawater Chemistry                       ~ Cassiopeia Stress Lab

At all times, students are encouraged to be up, out of their seats and learning. Diane Fossey stated once that "Conservation begins with the boots on your feet" and although true we subscribe to the theory that conservation begins when you're knee or elbow deep in a tidal pool, whether you're wearing boots or Tevas, the latter highly recommended!!

Accommodations:

Within four bunkhouses, Pigeon Key can sleep more than 76 in historic buildings dating as far back as 1909. All of our buildings have modern accoutrements like A/C and modern bathrooms and showers. The buildings are designed as dorm rooms with a mixture of bunks and full sized beds, semi private rooms, private rooms and several open floor plans, all lending themselves to fit the need of any group.

Three meals are served daily and in most cases, they are hot – grilled chicken and macaroni, lasagna and garlic bread w/ green salad, pulled and chopped pork sandwiches w/ potato salad or coleslaw, biscuits and gravy w/ fruits and cereals to name just a few. Students, adults and staff alike never leave hungry and are often excited about meal-time.

History:

Pigeon Key's modern history began in 1908 when Henry Flagler began building his "railroad that went to sea". During this time, Pigeon Key served as a construction camp for the original Seven Mile and Bahia Honda Bridges, housing nearly 400 workers at any given time. From 1913 to 1935, it became home to the maintenance crews that operated the swing bridge and the paint crews that labored for an entire year to paint the bridges from end to end, only to restart the daunting task all over again due to the lack of paint technology!

On Labor Day 1935 we found out just how a speeding locomotive faired against a category 5 hurricane, when it was washed from its tracks near Islamorada, causing the deaths of more than 1,000 FL Keys residents. By

1937, a roadway stretched where trains and freight cars once churned out smoke. Pigeon Key, no longer serving as a maintenance camp for the railroad became state property and was used as a Coast Guard station, a fish camp and even a research facility by the University of Miami until 1993 when the Pigeon Key Foundation was formed and secured the $1 per year long term lease from its current owner, Monroe County.

Opportunities:

Pigeon Key has the capacity to host many different and varied types of functions - from weddings and receptions to auto commercials (Saab, Ford, Honda and BMW) and movies ("Keys" and "True Lies" to name a few).

Obviously, our primary focus is education programs, serving thousands of students each year, but our flexibility and willingness to use our imagination has allowed Pigeon Key to prosper and thus strengthen our education programs.

Have a need for a 2,3,4 or 5-day program? Even longer? Whether it's marine science or just the need for a facility for your church retreat, Pigeon Key is ready, willing and very capable to provide you with a wonderful and memorable experience that's fulfilling and meets all of your needs!

Pigeon Key Foundation & Marine Science Center

PO Box 500130

Marathon, FL 33050

305-289-0025