Program Info

In San Diego, educating local youth about the marine environment and encouraging them to take an active role in protecting it is of utmost importance (considering the ocean is in their backyard). Without fundamental knowledge of how marine organisms, their habitats and water quality are interconnected, children may not recognize the need for protecting and preserving these local resources.

The Ocean In Motion: Marine Science Education Program (OIM) seeks to inspire San Diego youth of all socioeconomic levels to become environmental stewards through fun, hands-on activities and a science-based curriculum. With qualified educators, experienced in the study of marine science, The San Diego Oceans Foundation is able to provide interactive workshops and field trips that are full of exciting activities to keep children of all ages amazed and intrigued. By engaging kids and educating them about our local marine ecosystems, we hope to encourage a curiosity about the waters that surround us while giving them the tools necessary to make educated decisions about how to protect delicate marine life in the future.

Ocean In Motion In the Classroom

During the school year, SDOF visits participating classrooms and afterschool programs throughout San Diego County to provide interactive, marine science lessons for grades K thru 12. In order to better suit individual classroom curricula and student interests, we have cultivated three different ocean-related topics for groups to choose from. Each unit offers a general overview of the topic at hand, focuses on marine organisms native to San Diego and addresses environmental issues that pertain to us all. The goal of Ocean In Motion in the Classroom is for students to leave with a better understanding of our vital marine ecosystems, a greater appreciation for all of the oceans’ inhabitants and the enthusiasm necessary to conserve these precious resources.

Each of the four, 90-minute presentations given to classes is informative, interactive and developed to stimulate scientific interest with regards to our local waters. A topic-related field trip opportunity on the fifth and final week is used to reinforce classroom sessions and put the students’ newfound knowledge to the test.

Summer Snorkeling

During the warm, summer months, SDOF provides local youth an opportunity to learn about their underwater world through educational snorkeling trips.

A typical snorkeling trip starts out with an informal introduction to the life commonly found while in the water. In order to prepare participants for snorkeling activities, they are briefed on the different types of animals they are likely to encounter, provided images to help identify various organisms, told where to find such creatures and let in on some cool adaptations these animals have to help them survive in the big blue. Fun facts and entertaining stories get the kids pumped up and ready to dive in! ‘Campers’ are taught basic snorkeling techniques, fitted for gear and are able to practice snorkeling in a shallow water environment. As soon as everyone is comfortable, we snorkel a short distance across a rocky reef area that is TEEMING with life. Here, students can observe all of the fish, invertebrates and algae we talked about first-hand.
Our marine biologist instructors lead participants in small groups, focusing on organism identification as well as efforts to be taken in order to minimize human impacts on the local marine environment. We round out our trip by brainstorming ways to help protect these fascinating habitats in our everyday lives.

Since 2002, the San Diego Oceans Foundation has been extremely successful in taking children of all abilities on our snorkeling excursions. All participants wear thick (usually 7mm) wetsuits, which provide a maximum amount of warmth as well as buoyancy. To ensure safety, we keep our student to staff ratio very low (no more than 3:1 for snorkeling).