Ocean Institute Partners with MiOcean to Educate the Next Generation of Watershed Stewards

Each year, more than 2,000 Southern California children learn about the challenges of urban runoff pollution by attending the Watershed Education Program, the flagship of the Ocean Institute’s environmental curriculum.

Water quality issues are the focus of a 4-hour field trip to the Ocean Institute, where children participate in an in-depth exploration of watershed science, including informative staff lectures and hands-on exhibits. Teachers who are new to the program also receive a special orientation and training session prior to their class’ field trip.

The learning continues as the children return to their classrooms, where they begin planning and implementing their own local watershed research projects. After analyzing their collected data, they prepare presentations and deliver their findings at the annual Kids’ Conferences on Watersheds, held each January at the Institute.

Bentley Cavazzi, Vice President of Operations for the Ocean Institute, estimates that 80 classes participate in the watershed education program each year. Students hail from schools throughout Orange County, as well as from the El Cajon/San Diego and Eagle Rock/Los Angeles areas.

Since the program was piloted in 2003-04, more than 10,000 5th graders have participated in this unique educational experience, which has been continuously sponsored by the nonprofit Miocean Foundation since its inception. In all, Miocean has contributed an estimated $765,000 to the Watershed Education program.

“Miocean’s goal is to eliminate runoff pollution at our beaches, because 85 percent of coastal pollution is due to runoff from our daily activities,” says Greg Wohl, who chairs the foundation’s education committee and also serves as an Ocean Institute board member.

“In addition to funding visible, measurable projects such as end-of-pipe water treatment facilities, we support educational programs like the Ocean Institute’s watershed program because they help increase awareness of the problem and create water stewards who will care about and protect our ocean for the long term.”

“We are pleased with the Institute’s Watershed Education Program,” Greg said. “These kids actively look at how the watersheds are impacted in their neighborhoods, and some even start local recycling and education programs to get the word out about urban runoff. They’re excited about learning, and they really get it.”

“The value of Miocean’s sponsorship cannot easily be expressed in words,” Bentley said. “It has truly helped the Ocean Institute continue to provide an enriching and relevant experience for this generation, as well as foster an understanding and ownership of the oceans and their community.

“Without the support of Miocean,” Bentley concluded, “this program would not be what it is today.”