Chadwick’s Ocean Ambassadors Program provides an opportunity for Upper School students interested in marine research and conservation to go beyond the classroom and participate in real-world marine science and conservation.
Working with partners, such as AltaSea and local schools, students are not only learning about the ocean but also contributing to their community by sharing what they learn.
The program meets twice weekly, with a different focus each time: Tuesdays focus on educational and research activities, while Thursdays focus on community outreach. Although a student can choose to attend either or both Tuesdays and Thursdays, most choose to go on both days.
Every Tuesday, the students travel to AltaSea’s marine innovation campus. The massive waterfront facility, which was originally a cargo ship warehouse, is now home to various marine technology companies and marine research groups.
During these visits, students meet and engage with scientists, engineers, and researchers who are pursuing projects in marine exploration and sustainability. Each week, they also meet with a different organization and learn how it conducts research to better understand and protect our ocean environment.
Instead of just listening to presentations, students participate in hands-on research-related activities. For example, students in the Ocean Ambassadors program created and tested underwater robots to investigate their ability to maneuver in underwater environments. They also observed kelp and marine organisms as part of learning about the ocean ecosystem and emerging ocean technology.
The Ocean Ambassadors also sometimes visits San Pedro’s Marine Mammal Care Center to learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of marine mammals, such as sea lions. Through these experiences, students see firsthand how science, technology, and conservation work together to protect marine life.
On Thursdays, they share what they’ve learned with the community at Barton Hill Elementary School, working with third-grade students in what the Ocean Ambassadors program refers to as “Ocean Makerspace Labs.”
During these labs, the Ocean Ambassadors work with third-grade students and support them in hands-on and creative projects that educate them on marine life as well as their responsibilities toward the environment. One project, completed during the past semester, focused on sharks. After researching different types of shark species and their characteristics, the third graders made 3D shark models using recycled materials. Through this project, the students not only learned about the biology of sharks but also developed an understanding of sustainability through the reuse of everyday materials.
The Barton Hill third graders are now also working on a plastic solutions challenge, in which they will design small tools or machines that could be used to remove plastic from the ocean. The Ocean Ambassadors will assist in brainstorming and encouraging the students to think about real-life environmental issues and possible solutions.
According to program participants, one of the primary goals of Ocean Ambassadors is to increase awareness of ocean conservation.
Through research experiences, engineering projects, and teaching opportunities, Ocean Ambassadors allows students to explore ocean science in meaningful ways while making a real impact. Whether through building underwater robots or mentoring elementary students, participants are turning curiosity about the ocean into action.
