Teach For the Ocean Educators Summit

The Ocean Foundation invites educators from all backgrounds in the Washington, D.C., MD, and VA area, as well as students pursuing a career in education, to learn about ocean conservation and policy, engage in dialogue, build a career network pipeline, and receive professional development training to improve ocean literacy and benefit the health of Chesapeake Bay.

All types of current and future educators are encouraged to attend, including informal educators, K-12 classroom teachers, interpretive guides, science communicators, professors, and others. Educators from all backgrounds, career stages, and disciplines are welcome. Current students who are pursuing postsecondary education in any field related to teaching are also welcome to attend, such as ocean or environmental education, childhood education, primary/secondary education, physical education, special education, educational leadership, curriculum and instruction, and other relevant subject areas. Presenters include:

Carrie McDougall leads NOAA's Science on a Sphere program.
Frances Lang leads the Teach For the Ocean Initiative at The Ocean Foundation.
Keyla Correia is the co-founder of Plastic Free Mermaids
Krysta Hougen-Ryall is the Environmental Communications Specialist at the NOAA Chesapeake Bay office.
Lauren Fauth is the Director of Conservation Education at the National Aquarium
Lolita Kiorpes teaches high school at the NOAA Ocean Guardian School

DATE: Tuesday, June 4, 2024
(There is no school this day for Washington, D.C. Public Schools)

TIME: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

LOCATION: Q?rius, The Coralyn W. Whitney Science Education Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (1000 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20560)

PARKING: Guests are encouraged to use public transportation or rideshare services. Click here for more information. 

Summit participants will receive professional development training focused on:

  1. K-12 Education & Student Action in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
  2. Incorporating & Communicating the Ocean Literacy Principles to Diverse Audiences
  3. Ocean Conservation Behavior, Decision-Making, & Action

The event is free of charge but registration is required. Lunch & beverages will be provided.

The Educators Summit is at capacity and event registration is now closed. Please subscribe to our newsletter to learn about future events!

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Agenda:

10:00-10:30Check-In & Informal Networking (Complimentary coffee & continental breakfast) Q?rius entrance, Lab & Basecamp
10:30-10:45Welcome Remarks & IntroductionTheater
10:45-11:45Panel PresentationTheater
11:45-12:00Morning Break
12:00-12:45K-12 Education & Student Action in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Basecamp
12:45-2:15Lunch & Self-Guided Museum Tour (Meal vouchers provided free of charge)Throughout museum
2:15-2:45Incorporating & Communicating the Ocean Literacy Principles to Diverse AudiencesTheater
2:45-3:20SOSExplorer Demo Presented by NOAALab & Basecamp
3:20-3:30Afternoon Break
3:30-4:00Ocean Conservation Behavior, Decision-Making, & ActionTheater
4:00-4:10Closing RemarksTheater
4:10-5:00Networking Reception (Complimentary beer & wine for ages 21+)Basecamp

About the Teach For the Ocean Initiative

The Ocean Foundation’s Teach For the Ocean Initiative bridges the knowledge-to-action gap by shifting the way we teach about the ocean into tools and techniques that encourage new patterns and habits for the ocean.  

By providing training modules, information and networking resources, and mentorship services, we support our community of marine educators as they work together to advance their approach to teaching and develop their intentional practice to deliver sustained behavior change. 

Learn More