We have launched our MERITO Academy Spring 2017 Field Studies’ Season!

We initiated our MERITO Academy’s field studies season on February 23. In the last month we led, coordinated, co-sponsored, and co-instructed 8 meaningful field experiences for 440 4th-6th grade students who actively participated in on going scientific research and conservation and had fun along the way! From February 23 through March 10, students from the participating schools including Berrywoold Elementary (Simi Valley), Washington Elementary and Adelante Charter (Santa Barbara), and De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts (DATA) from Ventura collected data on marine debris, water quality, sea bird populations, sandy beach and rocky intertidal habitats supporting on-going research and conservation efforts. The field locations varied from Coal Oil Point Reserve, Rincon Beach, County line and Surfer’s Knoll. Field studies will continue until end of May of 2017. To our joy and most of the ocean science, ocean conservation and ocean loving communities, our students and staff recorded live and apparently healthy Ochre sea stars at County Line Malibu and Coal Oil Point Reserve. The data will be available soon at ONMS Limpets.org and MERITO Foundation’s project on Fieldscope.