Local elementary students got a hands-on look at ocean science last week through city-sponsored programs at the Ocean Institute.
RH Dana Elementary School took part in two sessions of the institute’s Big AI Lab on March 24, while students from Palisades Elementary School participated in a Watershed Lab and cruise program April 1.
The programs are part of the Ocean Institute’s Adopt-a-Class initiative, which provides field trips for students who might not otherwise have access due to limited school resources.
“Our mission here at the Ocean Institute is using the ocean as a classroom,” said Robyn Takeshita, Director of Education at the Ocean Institute. “We want kids to be engaged and curious in all aspects, and then ignite that spark for lifelong learning in them.”
During the Watershed Lab program, students learned how pollution travels from land to the ocean, starting with local systems like San Juan Creek. Students tested water samples from the harbor and examined how runoff from streets, fertilizers and litter can impact ocean health.
“They learn how everything on land eventually ends up in the ocean if we’re not careful,” said Takeshita.
They also take part in fish dissections, where some students have found signs of pollution inside the fish.
“We’ve had fish dissections before where we found plastic inside the fish’s stomach,” said Takeshita. “The kids are very quick to connect that to littering and start asking how it got there.”
Students also learn about groundwater systems and how water moves through different environments before reaching the ocean.
After the lab portion, students board a boat in Dana Point Harbor, where they collect mud samples and plankton from the water. In the mud samples, they look for small organisms known as indicator species, which can show whether an ecosystem is healthy based on oxygen levels and water quality.
They also scan for signs of microplastics and other pollutants, connecting what they see on the water to what they learned in the classroom earlier in the day.
Takeshita said the goal is to make science tangible.
“A lot of times students will say they don’t like science because it’s just reading from a textbook,” she said. “Being able to take them out into the real world and let them experience it makes a big difference.”
The Adopt-a-Class program began 25 years ago and now serves about 3,000 students each year. Schools apply to participate, and selections are made through an application process based on need, fit and available funding.
The program is supported by a mix of private donors, foundations and grants, which allows the institute to cover the cost of field trips for participating classes. In some cases, donors fund programs tied to specific communities or subject areas.
This year, the City of Dana Point helped fund participation for RH Dana and Palisades elementary schools, both identified as local schools in need.
Takeshita said even students who live near the coast don’t always have access to it.
“It’s amazing how many kids, even in Dana Point, have never been to the beach or out on a boat,” she said.
Over time, the program has expanded to include more schools across Orange County and nearby areas, including San Juan Capistrano and Santa Ana.
Takeshita said the impact can be lasting. In one multi-day program, about half of students initially said they were not very interested in science. By the end, about 80% said they would consider pursuing it further.
“We know not every kid is going to leave here wanting to be a marine biologist,” she said. “But we hope they walk away feeling more connected to the ocean and more motivated to take care of it.”
Today, multiple instructors at the Ocean Institute started out as Adopt-a-Class students themselves.
“We had one instructor whose first visit was a field trip in first grade,” she said.
The institute is working to expand the program with new curriculum and partnerships, though growth depends largely on available funding.
“The more support we have, the more students we can say yes to,” Takeshita said.