.png)
Education
We serve as the hub for marine science education for our summer Scouting programs as well as for our outdoor education programs in the fall and spring with Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy (EBOA) and Naturalists at Large (NAL) When we have visiting community groups on the weekends, we open our doors for an "Open House" style of informal education, allowing visitors to experience our touch tanks and ask our aquarists questions.
BSA Oceanography Merit Badge
We are in full swing during the summer season offering several courses to enrolled Scouts. Our Marine Science Educators teach Oceanography where Scouts will learn the different types of waves and causes for each, different types of reefs, scientific equipment used for studying the ocean, how climate and the ocean are linked, and just how much we rely on the ocean. In 2022 alone, we had over 600 Scouts enrolled in this course.
BSA Aquarist
In this summer class, Scouts will learn how to set up an aquarium and the elements involved in doing so (filtration, aeration, pumps, decoration, etc.) as well as basic fish care over the course of the week. They will have the opportunity in class to snorkel and catch fish for their aquarium. They will also receive a behind the scenes tour of how our center operates.
ROVs
It is the aim of a good program to evolve and grow with the needs of the next generation. Here at the Pennington Marine Science Center, we have recognized our students’ need for cutting edge STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs for both the academic year and scouting summer camp. In alignment with our mission of ocean exploration, we created a Remotely Operated Vehicle Ocean Exploration class. Our summer camp ROV Ocean Exploration patch is earned in our week long class. Spring and fall classes can be tailored to 2 hour, 4 hour, or 8 hour classes. Each class, regardless of length, receives hands-on experience driving ROVs. We have built 14 RoboNation SeaPerch and have the capacity for 42 students in a class.
Outdoor Education
During the spring and fall season, Emerald Bay Outdoor Academy as well as the Naturalists at Large utilize our space for their visitings students. They are able to experience our touch tanks, participate in a fish dissection, learn about plankton and see them under a microscope, examine kelp anatomy, and overall gain a glimpse of Catalina life underwater.
