Helping kids learn about the ocean

by B. N. Sullivan

We began publishing our photos and stories on The Right Blue back in mid-2007 primarily as a means to share them with our family and friends. Since then, we have acquired a much larger audience than we ever imagined. These days, our regular readers are divers, marine scientists, and ocean buffs of all stripes -- including children.

From time to time we hear from kids -- or their parents.  They thank us for an article about something they were studying, or ask if we know where to find more information about a certain creature .  Sometimes they want to know if they can use one of our photos for a report or a school project.  We're always glad to help if we can, because we believe it's important to share with children our  fascination for all things ocean.  We like to foster young people's  interest in the sea and understanding of marine ecosystems.

Earlier this week our fellow ocean bloggers over at Deep Sea News came up with a great idea. They proposed that we, along with a number of other ocean and nature bloggers, join together to sponsor ocean and waterway science education in K-12 classrooms. We're doing this by publicizing and promoting Donors Choose, a charity that allows individuals to directly fund educational projects proposed by K-12 teachers themselves.

The teacher-chosen projects we are sponsoring are all worthy. Teachers at  participating schools in seven states around the U.S. are asking for things like materials for classroom projects; a salt water aquarium; gear to help them collect field samples; subscriptions to a student science magazine; and transportation for a field trip to learn about what sailors and explorers did 'back in history'.

We are joining the guys at Deep Sea News, Southern Fried Science, Blogfish, Oyster’s Garter, Echinoblog, Cephalopodcast, Drop In, The New Blue, Natural Patriot, and Malaria, Bedbugs, Sealice, and Sunsets in asking our readers to help fund these educational projects for young people by making a donation. The requests from the individual teachers are modest, so even a $10 donation will be helpful -- but of course more generous donations also are very welcome!

Follow this link to Donors Choose to have a look at the individual projects. You can specify which project you'd like to help fund, or you can make a general donation via the "Give to the most urgent project" button near the top of the list.

One more thing:  If you have a blog or a website and would like to join our group in supporting and  promoting these projects, let us know.  We'd love to have you on board.