Ocean Institute facts for kids
The Ocean Institute is a special place in Dana Point, California. It teaches kids and adults all about the ocean and its history. It started in 1977 as the Orange County Marine Institute. Each year, over 100,000 students and 8,000 teachers visit. They learn about ocean science and maritime history. They do this in labs right by the ocean or on boats.
The institute is open to everyone. You can visit on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. On weekends, it's open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors can see amazing marine animals and cool ocean exhibits. Did you know that Stephen Hillenburg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, got ideas for his show from teaching here?
The Ocean Institute has a 70-foot research boat called the R/V Sea Explorer. Students use it for learning programs. Visitors can also go on trips to see ocean wildlife, like whale watching on weekends. The institute also works with Lazy-W Ranch. This camp is in the Cleveland National Forest. Students there learn about nature and California history. The institute also has a "Ocean in Motion" van. This van is a mobile laboratory that brings ocean lessons to schools. They also teach through video calls.
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Cool Places to Explore
The Ocean Institute has many exciting areas for learning. Each one offers a unique way to discover the ocean.
Learning Centers
- Ecology Learning Center: This center is for younger students, from kindergarten to third grade. It has tanks with marine life. There are also wet-tables with video-microscopes. Kids can see tiny ocean creatures up close. It also has a digital imaging lab and a fun children's theater.
- Packard At-Sea Learning Center: This center is for students in grades four to six. It has different kinds of marine life. You can even see jellyfish at various stages of their lives.
- Surfscience Learning Center: This area has cool exhibits. You can see an oceanography test tank and a wave tank. There is also a shark and ray pool. Students on overnight programs can sleep upstairs on the sleeping deck. This deck also has a weather station.
- Maddie James Seaside Learning Center: This center has a lab to study different kinds of sea life. It also helps new animals get used to their new home. It's a place where people can help study new species that might be moving into the area.
Outdoor and History Areas
- Marine Life Refuge: This is an eight-acre area of beach and tidepools. It is just north of the institute. Guides lead walking tours here. You can explore the tidepools and see animals in their natural home.
- Maritime Center: This center is used to teach about maritime history. You can learn about ships, sailors, and how people explored the oceans long ago.
- Laurena G. Chambers Gallery and Gift Store: This is a place where you can find educational materials. It also has ocean and maritime-themed gifts.
Tall Ships: Pilgrim and Spirit of Dana Point
The institute has two amazing tall ships. These are large, old-fashioned sailing ships. One is the Pilgrim, a 130-foot vessel. The other is the Spirit of Dana Point, a 118-foot topsail schooner.
The Pilgrim was a copy of a ship that Richard Henry Dana Jr. sailed on in the 1830s. He sailed into Dana Point on that ship. The tall ship programs let students experience what it was like to be a sailor in the 1830s. They learn about life at sea long ago.
The Pilgrim and Spirit of Dana Point are the stars of the institute's biggest event. This is the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival. It happens every September. Many tall ships come from all along the coast. The festival has pirates, singing, and even cannon battles! You can also get a chance to sail on a tall ship.
Sadly, the replica of the Pilgrim was taken apart in April 2020 after it sank.
How the Ocean Institute Works
The Ocean Institute needs money to run its programs. It gets funding from school visits and grants from the state and city. People who love the ocean also give gifts to help. Many people also volunteer their time to help the institute. Wendy Marshall is the president and CEO of the institute.
The institute's biggest yearly fundraiser is the Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle. This event started in 2005.
