¡Vamos a la Playa!
Ocean & Climate Education, Monitoring and Mapping for grades 4th-8th
The MERITO Foundation is thrilled to launch a new marine environmental education and citizen-science project! Sponsored by Whale Tail Grant, with additional support from the Port of Hueneme, and REI Cooperative Action Fund. This initiative will involve 500+ 4th-8th grade students in exploration, monitoring, and mapping of beaches in Port Hueneme and Oxnard. We're now accepting applications from 4th-8th grade teachers to participate in this 12-month project.
Interested educators should read the information below and apply by 7/15/2024
What does the "¡Vamos a la Playa! Project Provide?
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Teachers will receive Professional Development through two webinars and one outdoor workshop at the beach or on Santa Cruz Island on Sept 20, 2024, Oct 18, 2024 and Jan 24, 2025.
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Access to MERITO Foundation's ocean, climate, and environmental science curricula aligned to NGSS with bilingual worksheets for students
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Up to $900 for participating teachers as stipends, and $400 per teacher for substitute teachers' cost as reimbursement
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$500 in funding for students' bus transportation to Meaningful Coastal Educational Experiences (MCEEs), also reimbursed
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Instruction of Coastal Monitoring activities by MERITO Foundation's staff at local beaches, wetlands, and the estuary
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Opportunities for a cohort of students selected by the participating teachers to receive Outdoor Leadership Training, job shadowing, become Beach Ambassadors, provide community service, and receive stipends.
Click to view flyer
What are the Goals of this Project?
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Empower Teachers: Provide training, tools, and resources to further the capacity of ten teachers of Title 1 schools, preferentially in the Cities of Port of Hueneme and Oxnard, to integrate climate, ocean, and environmental literacy, environmental monitoring, and stewardship activities in their instructional plans and methods.
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Inspire Students: Increase their students' stewardship for the coast and ocean environments, particularly regarding sea level rise, urban runoff, and plastic pollution (according to grade level), by immersing them in outdoor community & and citizen science and service-learning activities at local wetlands, beaches, and estuaries
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Build Leadership: Provide opportunities that build environmental leadership and STEM career pathways for the participating students through job shadowing experiences and by facilitating a two-night, three-day Outdoor Leadership training provided by the California Department of Parks and Recreation for 10-15 students selected by the participating educators to be Beach Ambassadors.
For more information, email Rocio.Lozano@meritofoundation.org, or call our offices at 805-765-6326
Sponsors
