Ocean First Institute

1. Northern Redbelly Dace Recovery ProjectFunded by Boulder County Parks and Open Space FoundationLauren Townsend Memorial FundOur species conservation projects are award-winning, hands-on, environmental education programs that involve students in substantive conservation efforts. This past year, the Northern Redbelly Dace Recovery and Restoration project taught students conservation biology through aquaculture habitat and species restoration. Students lead every step of the process from breeding to feeding to species release and monitoring. This project was a collaboration with government agencies and local community leaders and had a positive impact on multiple communities in Colorado.

3. Ocean First Discovery Center Courses Ocean First Institute (OFI) scientists continue to partner with educational institutions and scientific organizations to conduct ongoing marine science research all over the world. This current and ongoing research informs OFI's educational outreach and inspires innovation and conservation in local communities. Our research is a centerpiece to our goal to bring the reef to the Rockies and inspire a new generation of environmental scientists and stewards.OFI focuses on educational outreach to primarily middle and high school students. We customize marine science education programs to individual schools and classrooms. We also offer after school and summer programming to supplement and enhance K12 science student learning. Our goal is to introduce the wonders of the ocean to students who would otherwise never have the chance to experience and learn about them through hands-on, high quality marine science education programs.

2. Plastic Pollution Monitoring Program Funded by Scientific Cultural Facilities District This educational outreach program engages students and educators from 6 counties along the Front Range of Colorado in field research and innovative conservation thinking. Ocean First Institute science educators work with teachers in middle and high schools to construct lessons about water quality and pollution, take students out into the field to collect water and sediment samples, analyze the samples and conceptualize potential solutions. This program culminates in student solutions summit, where students share what they have learned with their communities.