Our Vision

Our vision is a healthy ocean cared by diverse coastal communities who live in an environmentally responsible manner regardless of native language, economic status, cultural beliefs, or ethnic background because we all share one ocean.

Our Mission

Our Mission is ocean protection through education, conservation, citizen science, and to inspire the next generation of environmental professionals.

438

Educators Trained

16,781

4th-12th grade students immersed in ocean and climate education

437

Project proposals authored by students to reduce their school carbon footprint 

10,984

Students sponsored education trips to Channel Islands

465

Hands on conservation and/or citizen science field experiences

$36,400

Disbursed as cash and in kind prizes to students authors of best projects

2019- 2020 PD Teacher's announcements 

The MERITO Academy is accepting five teams of teachers (3 per school site) to participate in  a new project. The grade level of the team teachers can range from 4th - 8th grade and could span across grade levels. Schools must be located in Ventura or Santa Barbara Counties. The project is titled Blue-Green Schools Project and it is funded by EPA, Channel Islands Harbor Foundation, Ventura Water and Coastal Conservancy. Among all the services the MERITO Academy offers (curriculum, coastal and/or island filed trips, materials), this new project will sponsor up to $3000 per school for implementation of most cost-effective proposal authored by their students to reduce waste production, water consumption, and school's runoff pollution. Teachers will receive $500 upon completion of the project. Eligible teachers need to commit to the professional development workshop scheduled for Sep. 19 & 20, 2019 at Santa Rosa Island Research Station, to work in teams, and to support their students develop their project development. To apply, fill in the Blue-Green Schools Project on-line application. To learn more contact Rocio.lozano@meritofoundation.org

The EECCOA Program is now accepting individual 8 to 10 8th- 12th grade teachers from Ventura or Santa Barbara Counties to participate in the 2019-2020 program. EECCOA empowers students to address climate change and ocean acidification by providing them the tools to research, design and innovative Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, or Waste Reduction practices in their schools can adopt, or develop outreach/ public campaigns that inform their communities or advocate for changes in policies through the EECCOA Challenge. Students authors of top 10-12 projects receive cash prizes, teachers receive a stipend upon delivery of tasks and one to two schools will receive sponsorship of project implementation. All services and products are provided for free with sponsorship of NOAA B-WET. Eligible teachers need to commit to the professional development workshop scheduled for Sep. 19 & 20, 2019 at Santa Rosa Island Research Station. You can learn more about the EECCOA Challenge at https://meritostaff.wixsite.com/eeccoachallenge

To apply, fill in the EECCOA Program 2019-2020 on line application.