Martins Ferry High School biology teacher and Chy-Phy Honors Science Club advisor Paul Matuska tells his club of the itinerary before leaving the school to go to the annual Florida trip. (Photo by Gage Vota)

MARTINS FERRY – Martins Ferry High School Chy-Phy Honors Science Club embarked on its two-week long Chy-Phy Marine Biology Field Trip on Friday afternoon.

The annual trip sees biology teacher and Chy-Phy advisor Paul Matuska take students with a 3.0 overall GPA in all of their high school science classes to Florida for several science related activities.

“We do an educational program at Disney, and then spend three days at Disney. From there, we go to Universal Studios. They do two days in Universal Studios, with one being an educational program in Universal Studios,” Matuska said. “We then take a charter bus down south to the Florida Keys. And in the Florida Keys we do our marine biology activities.”

He added that the group will attend a three-day sea camp where they will snorkel on the reef, swim with dolphins, feed sharks, swim with stingrays and do some work at a sea turtle habitat restoration at Biscayne Bay.

In addition to the fun, the camp will teach the students about the ecology of the reef.

“They learn a lot of ecology and marine biology while they’re at sea camp,” Matuska said. “We also go clean up the Looe Key. There’s not really people on it – it’s just where the sea turtles lay their eggs. So we go clean that up and make sure it’s all good for them. So we do some work down there as well.”

He added that the itinerary is for the group to take a bus from Martins Ferry High School to Pittsburgh International Airport to Orlando International Airport where they will take a bus from the airport to the various destinations.

Matuska said that the trip would not be possible without the several sponsors that donate money to the trip.

Monetary sponsors who made the trip possible include Abbey’s Restaurant and Lounge, American Legion Post 38, Arby’s Bob Evans, Carver Foundation, Cloud 9 Salon and Spa, Convenient Food Mart, Consol Energy, DeFelice Pizza, Deluxe Toy and Hobby, Dr. Angelo Georges, Jacob and Sons, Just Meds, Hanover Fuel Stop, Lansing Sportsman Club, Martins Ferry Alumni Association, Martins Ferry Boosters Club, MPLX, Pickles Eatery and Bar, Prima Marina, Revival Salon and Spa, Softite, Unified Bank, Washington Wild Things and Zontini Pizza.

In addition to monetary donations, Subway, Convenient Food Mart and Hanover Fuel Stop donated food for the students to enjoy with their parents and guardians at the school’s cafeteria before leaving for the trip.

Matuska said that roughly $15,000 was donated to go towards the trip with the entire cost for all of the students and chaperons costing roughly $110,000.

He added that the students fundraise from junior to senior year to ensure that the trip can be paid for.

“We just want to give our kids an opportunity to experience something special. We’ve had students that have actually gone down there and came back and decided they wanted to go into marine biology in college. This allows them to experience some things outside of this area and see some different opportunities,” Matuska said. “A lot of the students get close with the camp counselors and the marine biologists down there, and really just talk to them, and learn about it, and decide that’s something they want to pursue.”

He added that the point of the trip is to provide the students with something unique and fun while still being incredibly educational.

“It’s just an opportunity like none other. I don’t think there’s anything in this area that does this with their kids,” Matuska said. “I just want everyone to know that a lot of times you hear bad things, but this is a good thing and a great thing that we’re doing for our students. And I think that the community needs to know that we do a lot of good things in our school.”

Superintendent Jim Fogle said that the annual trip would not be possible without Matuska’s time and dedication spent to ensure the trip goes off without a hitch.