For beach lovers , it offers 3.2 miles of natural seashore , tide pools and underwater habitat off the coast . For avid hikers , there are 2,400 acres of backcountry to explore . And for history buffs or families relishing a quick getaway , it offers 45 vintage cottages ( plus one Japanese Language School house ) originally built in the 1930s and 1940s ; many can still be rented today for a rustic seaside vacation while others are in the process of being restored . However , for many elementary , junior and

high school students around Southern California , the state park is also a center for learning via the Crystal Cove Conservancy ’ s STEM ( science , technology , engineering and mathematics ) education program . And thanks to advances in online learning , anyone can access the program ; so far , students in nine states including California have used the online materials .

The conservancy was founded in 1999 by Laura Davick as the Alliance to Rescue Crystal Cove as a way to protect the cove ’ s historic cottages , stop development of a luxury resort planned on the site , and work with the community to create a vision for the park .

Education also became part of the mission of

this organization , which was renamed Crystal Cove Alliance and then Crystal Cove Conservancy . Of the existing educational programs , the first — the Marine Protected Area Science Cruise — began in 2012 with the implementation of California ’ s MPA network and the establishment of the Crystal Cove State Marine Conservation Area , which aimed to protect wildlife and habitat .

Based on ideas floated by Davick , then-CEO Harry Helling and the conservancy board , establishing the program involved partnering with Crystal Cove State Park natural resource managers , UC Irvine and Newport Landing Sportsfishing to create a series of monitoring and research projects that students could participate in .

LEFT : J . CHRISTOPHER LAUNI

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