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rehabilitation of seals , sea lions and other pinnipeds — are unlike any others in the region .
“ There is nowhere else in Orange County that kids can see a marine hospital in action or see seals and sea lions as close as they do at PMMC ,” says Kirsten Donald , a marine mammal biologist and vice president of education and ocean advocacy at the center . “ Our experiential style of learning — which incorporates past and present patient stories — generates a strong understanding of ocean concepts [ as well as ] the importance of ocean ecosystems and their conservation .”
Presented in a unique space with a focus on marine life , environmental science and ocean stewardship , STEM-related sessions help local youths understand more about the issues facing the environment and the major players involved with solving them as well as the challenges they face and the methods they use to enact change . “ Science and technology drive new innovation across the world and will be imperative to solve the significant environmental issues of our time ,” Donald says .
With both in-person and web-based offerings , PMMC reaches a high number of children through the Camp Pinniped summer program and the Ocean Heroes / Ocean Explorers after-school sessions in addition to field trips , scout programs and the Pinniped Pollution Project for local students at Title 1 schools , which are campuses in low-income areas . Teens can also take
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part in experiences at the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation & Research Lab or as part of the Youth Action Council .
“ Our camp and after-school programs have been designed such that a child can come back every year and experience different curriculum and activities to continue building on what they have learned previously at PMMC ,” Donald adds .
According to Donald , children can take part in hand-on activities that include looking at biological samples through microscopes , dissecting marine creatures , conducting behavioral research , analyzing acoustics of sounds made by both humans and marine mammals in the ocean , attending beach cleanups , creating tools to help clean the ocean , plus arts and crafts or games that demonstrate concepts related to conservation or biology ; simulations of rescuing and rehabilitating the animals also take place .
“ Because of the connection forged between the students and animals , compassion is generated for marine life that results in the motivation to take action on their behalf ,” Donald says . “… Designing and launching these programs gives me a great sense of fulfillment through the knowledge that we are inspiring and raising awareness in the current and next generations about how imperative it is to make environmentally friendly practices part of our daily lives . Every program we offer imparts this message .”
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AFTER-SCHOOL ACTION For Sean Zulueta , nursing was his dream , but after taking a college course in animal diversity and ecology , he switched his major to biology . “ My university experience allowed me to swim with whale sharks , refract highpowered lasers , synthesize organic chemicals [ and ] cut open geodes ,” he reveals .
After working in outdoor education everywhere from the high desert of the Mojave National Preserve and the redwood forests of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the tide pools of Laguna Beach ( through Laguna Ocean Foundation ), Zulueta took a position as education initiatives director at the Laguna Canyon branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach .
All of the Boys & Girls Club ’ s STEM programs are currently held in-person , on a rotating basis . Options include Space Academy , where children engineer space-related vehicles as well as out-of-this-world treats ; Summer Brain Gain , with a habitat theme that ensures kids are learning about environments ranging from the deep ocean to the dry desert ; and Kitchen Kraze , which offers hands-on cooking experience . Additionally , a garden club teaches lessons about botany .
Other programs , like Coding Class or Money Matters , require multiple sessions due to the complex nature of their topics . The coding sessions , led by high school volunteers , show youths how to program a
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COURTESY OF PACIFIC MARINE MAMMAL CENTER |
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