Ocean Connectors: Connecting Youth for Conservation

Ocean Connectors is an environmental education program that crosses borders, linking students with the environment in order to teach the stewardship of coastal resources.

Over the past few months the Ocean Connectors program has successfully focused on the migratory nature of sea life, such as sea turtles and whales, to teach the stewardship of coastal resources to students in San Diego, California.  Ocean Connectors students are learning the importance of preserving coastal resources through classroom-based curriculum.  Soon we will commence student-led visits to the Chula Vista Nature Center, whale watching excursions, and field visits to witness NOAA sea turtle research firsthand. Students received classroom presentations by guest speakers of their choosing over the past several months.  Field trips will soon be underway, and will continue into the months ahead.  The Ocean Connectors program is on-schedule with project implementation and continues to follow the methods outlined in our original proposal. 

For field trips, Ocean Connectors students are working with local experts to design environmental education lessons that bring students outdoors and into nature.

Ocean Connectors students are now visiting the Chula Vista Nature Center to interact with green sea turtles and study ecosystem connections, focusing on coastal processes and the importance of wetlands for migratory species.  In partnership with the local whale watching company Flagship San Diego Harbor Excursion, fourth grade strudents have scheduled seven whale watching field trips during January – March.  These boating excursions will introduce students to the wonders of the marine world, fostering their lifelong interest in ocean conservation.  In the springtime sixth grade students will attend field trips to the Marine Turtle Research Program Study Site in the South San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge, to watch as scientists perform research on green sea turtles.  These students will receive the rare opportunity to discuss valuable career information with local science professionals, thus enhancing the students’ understanding of marine science concepts overall.   

When students were taught that California has less than 10% of native wetlands remaining, they chose to implement habitat restoration to protect native wildlife.

Students have kicked off field trips to restore two habitat sites in San Diego County. Students play bird bingo to strengthen their knowledge of local wildlife, remove litter and invasive plants, and plant native plants. Students are empowered by seeing their own positive influence on the environment, and by witnessing the clear, visible outcome of their restoration work.  Students return to class and complete reflection worksheets to help strengthen their academic skills. 

Students attend whale watching excursions off the Southern California coastline.

This month Ocean Connectors kicked off whale watching excursions, where students interact with migrating gray whales and dolphins as they swim past the California coastline. Aboard the boat students discuss facts about the ocean and participate in group learning activities. As a key effort to spread awareness and spark lasting, global change, San Diego students recently wrote letters to pen-pals living in Mexico about how we must unite to protect the whales, while taking individual action.  The students exchanged problem-solving suggestions about how to save these shared species from extinction.

Ocean Connectors students have been involved in a variety of outdoor conservation activities.  Recently they created a video to capture their success performing habitat restoration at a wetland site in south San Diego. They put technical skills into practice to create this short film.  Check out their accomplishment!

Ocean Connectors students exchange pen-pal letters to share enviromental lessons.

Sixth grade students in San Diego and Loreto, Mexico, exchanged pen-pal letters about their experience with habitat restoration and seeing wildlife firsthand during field trips. This solidified the experiential learning experience for students by allowing them to spread awareness and teach others. In the letters, the students explained how they've contributed firsthand to improving the San Diego environment.  The students in Mexico replied with suggestions of their own to help the environment and wildlife.  This activity improves student letter writing skills and engages a diverse audience in the program.  Letter writing also encourages student reflection on their progress so far.

Students make pledges about how they will help protect the environment for the future.

Ocean Connectors students recently made eco-pledges of their own choice.  The children pledged to adopt sustainable lifestyle behaviors that seem important to them, like those shown in the photo here.  Next the students will sort and categorize the pledges to determine overall what types of changes are likely to occur as a result of the Ocean Connectors program.  Students are dramatically impacted by  program activities, helping to build a future of environmental sustainability in the region.

Ocean Connectors students continue to visit their natural sites in San Diego to perform habitat restoration.

Last month Ocean Connectors students received a final opportunity to perform habitat restoration at their natural sites.  Professionals from the US Fish & Wildlife Service joined the excursions to enhance the learning opportunity and speak with the students directly.  During these trips, students watered, planted more native plants and removed invasive weeds.  They used binoculars to observe wildlife and microscopes to examine water samples.  The children discussed plankton and its role in the ocean ecosystem.  They examined wildlife field guides with tips and assistance from the Fish & Wildlife Service experts. Finally, the students reviewed their accomplishments at the site and wrote down suggestions for other students to improve the site in the future.