¡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 a Whale Tail Grant, with additional support from the Port of Hueneme, and the REI Cooperative Action Fund. This initiative will involve 550+ 4th-12th grade students in the exploration, monitoring, and mapping of beaches in Port Hueneme and Oxnard.
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 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 & citizen science and service-learning activities at their 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 for 10-15 “Ocean Ambassadors”, as selected by the participating educators.
What does the "¡Vamos a la Playa! Project Provide?
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Teachers will receive Professional Development through two (2) webinars and one (1) outdoor workshop at the beach on Sept 20, 2024, Oct 16, 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), 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 Ocean Ambassadors, provide community service, and receive stipends.
If you have any questions regarding the VLP program, email Jose.Serrano@meritofoundation.org
Sponsors