San Juan Capistrano 4th Grade Students to Participate in Ocean Institute’s Watershed Program on Dec. 18th
Dana Point, CALIF., December 11, 2008 – The Ocean Institute will welcome 80 4th grade students from San Juan Elementary School in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday, December 18, 7:30 – 11:30 a.m., who will be participating in the Institute’s Watershed Program, The students are being sponsored through the Institute’s Adopt-a-Class program, funded by the City of San Juan Capistrano, CR&R Waste and Recycling Services and Friess Construction. Special guests include Ziad Mazboudi of the City of San Juan Capistrano.
“The Watershed Program is one of the Institute’s most popular programs,” remarked Dan Stetson, the Institute’s President. “We’re grateful to our donors for allowing these young people to participate.”
During the four-hour Watershed Program, students explore the science of watersheds. In the lab, students learn scientific techniques, as they perform a fish dissection, conduct water chemistry tests, work on a biological assessment and record weather data. They complement their lab research onboard the RV Sea Explorer, where they form research teams to test the offshore water chemistry, conduct a bio-assessment of the sea floor habitat and perform a plankton count.
Stetson continued, “It’s our goal to have our students understand how pollutants, improperly disposed of, will negatively impact our beaches and oceans and their marine inhabitants. By doing so, we hope to create a generation of environmental stewards.”
For more information on the ways you can help support students in your local community through the Ocean Institute’s Adopt-A-Class program, please contact Lara Hughes at (949) 496-2274, ext. 413.
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. Phone: (949) 496-2274.
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.
