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LOOKING BACK AT LAST YEAR

First year we reached all schools and grades in the Hoover Cluster (Kinder – 12^th)
Over 6,000 students participated in our In-School Programs
Over 700 students participated in our After School Camp

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PROGRAM STRUCTURE

*Timing includes Travel Time

**2^nd grade will change to Ocean Discovery Living Lab during 2026-2027 academic year.

Grades	Exploration	Make a Difference
2^nd**	Living Coast Discovery Center (9:45am – 1:00pm)*	Classroom (1 hour Lesson)*
5^th	USFWS Sweetwater Marsh (9:45am – 1:00pm)*	Living Lab (9:30am – 1:00pm)*

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EXPLORE – WETLAND FIELD TRIPS

5^th Grade: Wildlife Refuge

2^nd Grade: Living Coast Discovery Center

Each class will remain together as a group.

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2^ND EXPLORE AT LIVING COAST DISCOVERY CENTER

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to:

Identify at least 2 animals that live in wetlands
Identify 2 ways that animals use the wetlands (food, housing, raise their young)

Three rotations

Bird Row
Aquarium
Shark & Ray

Students will no longer carry backpacks!

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE CLASSROOM: 2^ND GRADE

Students will create 3D models of wetland plants or animals
Students will make a pledge to protect the wetlands

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5^TH EXPLORE AT LIVING COAST DISCOVERY CENTER

Learning Objectives

Students will:

Explore & identify at least 2 animals & plants that live in wetlands
Investigate the importance of the wetlands to animals (food, wildlife housing, nurseries)

Two rotations

Gathering evidence of animals on the trails
Plant restoration

Students WILL carry Ocean Discovery backpacks!

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE AT LIVING LAB: 5^TH GRADE

Students plant native seeds and zip line them across the courtyard for wetland restoration

Plants can be taken home with students or left at the Living Lab

Students innovate & engineer solutions to clean wetlands
Students have a conversation with a scientist

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NEXT STEPS

Print, disperse your school permission slips & Ocean Discovery waivers by the first day of program.

Recruit chaperones as needed for your class

2 chaperones per class (does not include aides)

Order student lunches as needed

Show students Field Trip Orientation videos before attending

Support fellows with classroom management & address student behavior as needed

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MORE DETAILS & REMINDERS

Student reminders:

Bring a water bottle on the field trips
Wear comfortable shoes for walking
Wear nametags
No backpacks on the coastal field trips (5^th grade will be give ODI backpacks)

Join in!

Please join in on the activities and exploration with your students.

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FIELD TRIP ORIENTATION VIDEOS

Field Trip Orientation Videos

Jenn will email you a link to a 2 minute video to show your students prior to the field trip.
Video will contain:

Preview of the space
Introduction to the ecosystem
Reminders on what to bring/wear
Ocean Discovery Community Agreements

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PROGRAM UPDATES

Extensive Need Classes

Each student is encouraged to attend with the scheduled grade-level classes with aides.
Please communicate with Ocean Discovery staff beforehand. Inform us of any accommodations needed.

Option to stay longer at the coastal field trip site

Buses will be scheduled to pick up at 12:30pm from the coastal field trip sites.
Your grade level has the option of staying longer at the site (without Ocean Discovery Staff)

You need to inform Ocean Discovery at least 10 days in advance.

Late Bus Protocol

If the bus is over 5 minutes late, Ocean Discovery staff will call transportation to get an ETA and communicate to Teachers.
Please note that the Ocean Discovery staff will need to leave the field trip site bye 12:45pm. At that time, teachers will take sole responsibility of their students.

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PROGRAM UPDATES

Rainy Day Plan

Ocean Discovery staff may need to reschedule coastal field trips due to rain in the forecast.
Our staff keeps a close eye on the weather, however, a call might be made day of.
Weather threshold:

More than 0.25 inches
More than 15% chance of rain

Cell Phone Policy

Ocean Discovery is aligning with SDUSD phone-free school day policy.
Phones may not be used during regular program hours

Exceptions: emergency situations, health-related purposes, as required by an IEP of Section 504 plan, or Instructional use authorized by educators.

Enforcement:

1. Verbal Reminder
2. Referred to the teacher
3. Referred to Ocean Discovery Program Manager
4. Phone retention (by teacher)

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LOGISTICS: TEACHER PORTAL

Oceandiscoveryinstitute.org/teachers

Access to:

Waivers
Schedules
Preview of Lessons
Resources – extension activities

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PREVIEW OF AFTER-SCHOOL CAMP

Host 24 weeks of after school programming

Mon – Friday 3:00 – 6:00pm or 3:30 – 6:30pm (late dismissal schools)

We will recruit from each school once or twice a year (30 students/week) with transportation

Plan to host 10% of each school’s students

Each school will be provided a folder of information (i.e. applications, contact number, flyers etc.) for the front office at the beginning of the school year.

Dates will be communicated next month!

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AFTERSCHOOL & SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM STAFF

Jo Vance

Program Manager

jvance@oceandi.org

Call or Text:

619-889-4657

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IN-SCHOOL PROGRAM STAFF

Jennifer Jacques

In-School Program Manager

jjacques@oceandi.org

626-678-7057

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