 |
 |
| Students work with a naturalist to examine a replica of a male sea lion skull during a field trip to the Aquarium. Photo: Reed Hutchinson/Heal the Bay |
|
|
|
Prestigious grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services will supplement, enhance and enrich the Aquarium’s field trip education programs in support of lifelong learning.
In July 2006 the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium was the recipient of the prestigious Museums for American Grant awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
The generous $150,000 Institute grant will allow the education staff to design and expand elementary curriculum including upgrading, implementing and evaluating grade specific (preK-5) education programs, and researching and developing a high school mentor service learning component for the newly designed elementary education program. This support will ensure that the goal of the Aquarium education programs which is, to provide high quality, invaluable, interactive marine science and environmental education programs to students throughout Los Angeles County and neighboring regions, will be fulfilled.
This funding is essential to enhance and enrich the existing programs and to develop a new service learning component. Many students, especially those in the lower grades, have never been to the beach or an Aquarium before. The interactive, hands-on education that they receive at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is something that will stay with them for years to come and may in fact change behaviors, careers and lives.
|
