School Programs


Save Our Shores’ Marine Debris Classroom Education Program teaches marine conservation and watershed stewardship by focusing on topics such as coastal processes, marine debris and marine ecosystems. The goal of this program is to provide students with an interactive and fun learning environment that promotes a sense of wonder, empowerment, and connection to the ocean and our watersheds.

SOS charges a $65 fee for classroom presentations (each additional presentation to the same class is $45). SOS will soon be able to offer scholarships to teachers and schools that cannot pay this fee. We aim to offer our programs to all students and understand the funding restrictions on everyone, so please contact us to inquire about our upcoming scholarship program today! All contributions directly support SOS' Marine Debris Education Program.

Presentations can be scheduled throughout the school year in classrooms, after school programs or with extra-curricular programs. To schedule a classroom or field visit from SOS contact education@saveourshores.org. Please schedule your visits at least one month in advance. SOS presenters can bring laptops and LCD projectors if these technologies aren't available at your school.

SOS’ Marine Debris Classroom Education Program is broken into three categories: activities and presentations, field components and teacher resources. We believe students’ experiences are enhanced when teachers combine options from multiple categories:
  1. Interactive educational activities and presentations teach students the fundamentals of ocean concepts such as food webs, ecosystem functions, watersheds, and marine debris. Presentations are usually classroom based while activities are suitable for the beach or the classroom. Learn more about the activities and presentations available for elementary, middle, and high school students (see top menu bar for presentation details based on grade level).
  2. Field components give students a chance to add a different context to concepts learned in the classroom. Field components are a great hands-on way for students to feel motivated and empowered to help keep our marine environment healthy. Learn more about the field components available for elementary school, middle school and high school classrooms.
  3. Educational resources for teachers and educators add more depth to SOS classroom visits. Supplementary videos and activities can be checked out from SOS free of charge. View a list of educational resources available today.
Elementary students on a field trip at the SOS office.


SOS has been working with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education to receive certification as a member of the Education and the Environment Initiative. 
»