Student Programs engage students and their teachers within their instructional settings to ensure every student is engaged in hands-on science.
Ocean Science Explorers
The cornerstone of our student programs, Ocean Science Explorers provides early, continued exposure to science by facilitating science learning in the classroom and field and professional development and resources for classroom teachers. Students participate in Ocean Science Explorers over four years, as the program is provided from the third through sixth grades. The program design uses ocean science and local resources as a platform to teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Students learn what science is, how science works, the essential principles of science, and how science is relevant to their lives. All curricula are grade level specific and aligned with Next Generation Science Standards.
Program staff visit each class six times to implement three core components: hands-on experiential learning in the classroom, exploration in an outdoor laboratory to reinforce science concepts, and a local environmental service-learning project to empower students to make a difference
At every grade level, students learn about career opportunities within science and environmental fields by working alongside science and conservation professionals. By acting as scientists themselves and interacting with professionals, students are able to envision themselves as future scientists.