Field Based Workshops

• Monterey Bay Aquarium
  7:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
  Registered Participant Information
  
  Let the Monterey Bay Aquarium be your playground for the day!  During this fun-filled excursion you’ll have an opportunity to experience the Aquarium before the doors open in the morning and in full operation the rest of the day.
  
  We’ll offer a menu of special programs and provide a number of brief presentations throughout the day.  Staff members from many Aquarium departments will share philosophies and lessons learned since the Aquarium first opened almost 25 years ago!  Our goal is to provide participants with a smorgasbord of opportunities in which direct experiences at the Aquarium are paired with brief presentations about some of the things we’ve discovered over the years.
  
  Here are just a few of the exciting things we have planned for you:

• Learn about our Sea Otter Research and Conservation Program and see one of our Sea Otter Feeding and Training Sessions

• View spectacular film footage as you learn about the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute’s recent deep-sea discoveries and experience an “Exploring Monterey Canyon” program

• Hear about our Seafood Watch program, sample some sustainable sushi and meet one of our charismatic waitresses at our Real Cost Cafe exhibit

• Find out about what our Exhibits team has learned about conservation messaging and visit the new “Secret Lives of Seahorses” exhibition

• Utilize new iPod technologies as you learn about and experience the Aquarium’s Behind-the-Scenes programs

• Discover the history of the Aquarium and enjoy a Cannery Row walking tour

• Peruse our school program offerings and participate in a mock Discovery Lab for classroom groups.

Monterey Bay Aquarium: www.montereybayaquarium.org

This workshop is ideal for participants who need to attend meetings in the afternoon at Asilomar.

• Asilomar State Beach
  8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
  Registered Participant Information
  
  While enjoying the beach, do some exciting inquiry-based science activities and look up-close at sand like you’ve never done before!  Explore the ecosystem to study the biotic and abiotic components of this exciting habitat and observe waves, currents and tides.  Back in the classroom, we’ll do hands-on activities you can do with your students whether you live close to the ocean or not!
  
  For part of the day, we’ll be doing investigations along the beautiful sandy shore of Asilomar State Beach.  It’s adjacent to the conference grounds and is a mile long stretch of sandy beach and rocky coves.  Ecologically diverse, this area features dunes, coastal pines and sandy and rocky shores.  The refuge-by-the-sea is part of the Pacific Grove Fish Garden and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
  
  Activity 1, Activity 2, Activity 3, Activity 4, Activity 5, Activity 6
  
  Asilomar State Beach: www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=566
  
  This workshop is ideal for participants who need to attend meetings in the afternoon at Asilomar.

• Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and Moss Landing Marine Labs (MLML)
  8:45 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
  Registered Participant Information, Schedule, Materials
  
  During this workshop, you’ll hear from scientists about some of their current research projects and see how they’ve made their data accessible to teachers and students on the web.  With help from the  Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center staff, you’ll also have a chance to build your own ROV with simple materials that challenge students’ critical thinking and communication skills.  You’ll participate in a data gathering beach walk and tour both Moss Landing Marine Labs and MBARI.  The day promises to be filled with learning and eye opening experiences.
  
  Established as the research arm of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, MBARI was founded by David Packard in 1987.  Perched on the edge of the Monterey Bay underwater canyon, MBARI is world-renowned for its exploration of the deep sea.  Its three research ships and two remotely operated vehicles give scientists immediate access to Monterey Bay.  MBARI also operates several autonomous underwater vehicles and maintains moorings offshore, equipped with ocean-monitoring instruments, as well as two moorings in the equatorial Pacific that are part of the NOAA Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) array.
  
  Just down the road, Moss Landing Marine Labs (MLML) boasts the second oldest marine lab on the Monterey Bay.  Dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in both education and research, MLML administers the Masters of Science program for a consortium of seven California State University campuses in northern and central California.  A hands-on, field-oriented approach at MLML places students, faculty, researchers, and staff at the frontiers of marine science worldwide where discoveries are being made. The Teacher Enhancement Program at MLML runs summer workshops in lab and field activities based on marine research for middle and high school teachers.
  
  Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute: www.mbari.org
  Moss Landing Marine Labs: www.mlml.calstate.edu
  Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE): www.marinetech.org

• Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
  8:15 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
  Registered Participant Information
  
  This workshop will be lead by educators from the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the Sea Grant Program at University of Southern California.  Come join us at the slough for a day of interactive activities on the topics of restoration, marine invasive species, water quality testing, birding and more!  Get outside and explore while learning a variety of activities to use with your students.
  
  As one of the largest areas of tidal wetlands in the state of California, the Elkhorn Slough provides critical wetland habitat to an enormous diversity of wildlife.  More than 7,000 acres of protected land creates a sanctuary for over 340 species of birds.  The Reserve includes 1,400 acres dedicated to scientific research, environmental education, and conservation with 5 miles of hiking trails and an award-winning Visitor Center.
  
  As part of a network of National Estuarine Research Reserves, Elkhorn Slough’s educators participate in a variety of programs, including Coastal Training Programs and Teacher Training Workshops to promote the conservation of this unique habitat and to encourage scientific investigation and research.
  
  Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve: www.elkhornslough.org/

• Seymour Center at Long Marine Labs
  8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  Registered Participant Information
  
  Discover what it’s like to be a scientist during your field workshop at the Seymour Center, a self-supporting program of the University of California, Santa Cruz.  The day features a guided tour through the sites and sounds of Long Marine Lab, including a behind the scenes peek into how scientists study seals, sea lions, dolphins, and whales like “Ms. Blue,” our 87-foot long blue whale skeleton.  We’ll visit the beach to learn how experts monitor the distribution and abundance of Pacific mole crabs, one of the most important herbivores on beaches along the west coast.
  
  The workshop will also include marine science resource activities and curriculum ideas for your classroom, lunch on Shipwreck Deck with scenic views of Monterey Bay, and time to explore the aquarium and Ocean Discovery Shop.  Join us for an exciting day of scientific exploration!
  
  On the bluffs overlooking the Monterey Bay, the Seymour Center at Long Marine Lab replicates the look and feel of a working marine laboratory, with hands-on exhibits that feature the everyday tools of scientific exploration, and an aquarium representing more than 80 different species.  The goal is to instill in visitors a lasting appreciation of the role research plays in understanding and protecting the world's oceans.
  
  Seymour Center: www2.ucsc.edu/seymourcenter/