Ocean Institute to Welcome 2,000
5th Grade Scientists in Training for
January “Kids’ Conferences on Watersheds”
Dana Point, CALIF., January 3, 2011 – Educating America’s next generation of young people about the sea and the importance of protecting it and its inhabitants is at the heart of the Ocean Institute’s mission. Therefore, the Institute launched its annual watershed program in 2003 to teach 5th grade students from the Southland about the science of the watersheds, an area of land which drains water to a river, lake, wetland or the ocean. Often, residents of a watershed are careless in such everyday choices as how to wash the car or fertilize the lawn, which ultimately contribute to pollution on our beaches and harm the wildlife that lives along our coastlines.
Nearly 2,000 5th grade students from Orange County, Los Angeles and San Diego County schools who are participating in the Ocean Institute’s 2010-11 Watershed program will visit the Institute January 10 – 25, 2011, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., for the 8th annual Kids’ Conferences on Watersheds. The science conference provides these young people with the opportunity to present the findings of their studies in the program to their peers, with local elected officials and professionals in the field listening in. It is an integrated-discipline, standards-based education program which provides students with the opportunity to explore the science of watersheds.
The science program began in September and October, when students visited the Institute to learn about watersheds and ways to reduce pollution in our oceans. Topics studied include meteorology, internal systems, water chemistry, water cycle, biological assessments, ocean productivity and research techniques. They then returned to their individual schools to continue their studies, collect data and prepare their information for public presentations.
The Kids’ Conferences in January is the highlight of the program, when the children return to share what they learned with each other. Some students present their findings to local businesses and public officials, in hopes of encouraging them to be better stewards of our ocean environment.
“We’ve been pleased with the results of the Watershed program,” observed Jonathan Witt, Watershed Education Program Coordinator. “It’s an ideal fit with our mission at the Institute, ocean preservation through education.”
Students were taught in Ocean Institute laboratories, as well as on-board the Institute’s R/V Sea Explorer. Teachers from the classes participating were trained in inservice classes at the Institute last summer, and returned to their classrooms to prepare their students for their visit to the Institute.
Guests from various community organizations, including city councils, school boards, non-profits and county officials, will be invited to attend the Kids’ Conferences to discuss the research projects and current watershed issues with the students during roundtable discussions.
Sponsored by Miocean. Community leaders, school administrators and teachers are welcome to attend. Admission is free. Information: Jonathan Witt, (949) 496-2274, ext. 330 or jwitt@ocean-institute.org.
Founded in 1977, the Ocean Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to ocean preservation through education, setting the standard for educational excellence and serving as a leading resource for universities, museums, teachers and all others seeking to increase their knowledge of the ocean. The Ocean Institute is open to the general public on weekends, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cost: $6.50 adults, $4.50 children (ages 4-12), Ocean Institute members free. Unique maritime and ocean-themed items are available in the Chambers Gallery everyday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Institute address: 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr., Dana Point. Website: www.ocean-institute.org.
2008 Business of the Year – The Dana Point Chamber of Commerce has selected the Ocean Institute as Dana Point’s “Business of the Year.” The award recognizes the positive contribution the Ocean Institute has made to the Dana Point community.
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