American Cetacean Society (ACS)
ACS is a national non-profit organization that protects whales and their habitat through public education, research grants, conservation actions and local chapters. Resources: Cetacean curriculum; whale and dolphin fact sheets.
The local chapter, ACS-LA, co-sponsors the Cabrillo Whalewatch program with Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and often hosts free lectures by renowned cetacean scientists at their monthly meetings.
Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
AZA is an international organization that accredits and supports Zoos and Aquariums in conserving and educating about our living world. Resources: Website for kids.
Audubon Society
Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife, to benefit humanity and the earth's biological diversity through public policy and education. Resources: Curriculum materials in Spanish and English; teacher training, classroom outreach, and outdoor education programs at the Ballona Wetlands and the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Area; Audubon Adventure nature/environmental newsletter; A Place to Live, a workbook to explore and conserve urban environments; and color posters.
California Coastal Commission
Established in 1972 to monitor protection of the coast while ensuring public access. Resources: Activity guide, "Waves, Wetlands, and Watersheds," outstanding Marine, Coastal and Watershed Resource Directory, curriculum guides, posters, slides, and videos available. Coordinates annual beach clean-up and Adopt-A-Beach programs at the state level.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Monitor and manage fish and wildlife through legislation, education, and restoration. Resources: Leaflets, pamphlets, publication list available, assembly programs.
California Marine Protected Areas
The Marine Life Protection Act directed the state to redesign California’s system of marine protected areas (MPAs) to: increase coherence and effectiveness in protecting the state's marine life and habitats, marine ecosystems, and marine natural heritage, as well as to improve recreational, educational and study opportunities provided by marine ecosystems subject to minimal human disturbance. These areas, like parks on land, protect underwater marine resources for future generations to enjoy.
California Science Center
Resources: Information/activity packages, classes geared for teachers, adults, and children. Exhibit hall, gift shop, public programs, teacher workshops, volunteer opportunities.
Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary
Ventura, CA. Resources include: Field programs, outreach, public programs, student materials, teacher resources and volunteer opportunities.
El Dorado Nature Center
Long Beach, CA. Resources include: Classes for school groups, field programs, outreach to school site, public programs, student materials, teacher resources, gift shop/curriculum available, teacher workshops and volunteer opportunities.
Environmentalscience.org
Online resource dedicated to being the most reliable and expansive advocate for environmental science education and careers. Over half a million visitors come to the site each month looking for information on STEM education and careers. All content is freely available without registration and written by environmental science experts.
Fish Contamination Education Information
Government/Community Collaboration. Resources include: Scientific and public health information on local fish and seafood contamination, including the Palos Verdes Shelf/DDT superfund site and public advisories.
Heal the Bay
Santa Monica, CA. A non-profit advocacy group working for a safe and healthy Santa Monica Bay using research, education, community action, and policy programs to achieve this goal. Resources: Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, literature available, information on storm drain stenciling, Stream Team and beach clean-ups. Key to the Sea Program for schools through local marine education collaborators including Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Space-based oceanographic and earth sensing resources including: Student materials, teacher resources and outreach to school sites.
Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific
Resources: Classes for school groups, student materials, teacher resources, gift shop/curriculum available, teacher workshops and volunteer opportunities.
Los Angeles City Stormwater Program
Resources: Watershed protection, student materials, teacher resources.
Los Angeles Zoo
Resources: Classes for school groups, adults, outreach programs, student materials, teacher resources, gift shop/curriculum available, teacher workshops and volunteer opportunities.
LA County Natural History Museum
The museum exists to advance knowledge and to enable people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests to understand and appreciate their natural and cultural heritage. Guided tours available. Outreach includes the Seamobile for 6th-8th graders (LAUSD only) with hands-on science. For special education, Life in the Oceans program available.
Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur
The Care Center rehabilitates and releases injured seals and sea lions found from Ventura to Orange County. The Center for Marine Studies provides activities on marine and environmental sciences for students and is part of Los Angeles Unified School District. Accommodations available for individuals with special needs. Resources: One-hour marine mammal rehabilitation tours; two-hour session tour and laboratory activity; specialized courses for students of San Pedro High School, science series lessons for elementary students, enrichment lessons for Biology and Environmental Science students, and professional development for teachers.
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Resources: Classes for school groups, field programs, outreach to school site, public programs, Seafood Watch, student materials, teacher resources, gift shop/curriculum available, teacher workshops and volunteer opportunities.
National Marine Educators Association
Professional membership organization to network those who educate about the world of water. The Bridge provides links to many resources including: "Scuttlebutt" listserv, technical links, research information, field programs, public programs, student materials, teacher resources, teacher workshops.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Deep trove of marine education resources across many agencies including remote sensing, weather, coastal, deep sea and oceanographic sciences: Student materials, teacher resources. Links for teachers, students and cool resources about the ocean for everyone. The Coastal Services Center provides detailed technical information.
Ocean Conservancy
Since 1972, the Center for Marine Conservation (now the Ocean Conservancy) has worked to protect marine life in its abundance and diversity including prevention of pollution, protection of marine mammals, creation of sanctuaries, and more. Resources: Information/activity packages geared for teachers, adults and children.
Ocean Institute of Orange County
Resources include: Classes for school groups, field programs, public programs, student materials, teacher resources, teacher workshops and volunteer opportunities.
The Ocean Project
Works with and through an international network of over 500 partner aquariums, zoos, museums, nature centers, and conservation organizations to create an understanding among their visitors and members of the significance of the oceans and the role each person plays in conserving our ocean planet for the future. By effectively reaching the key staff and volunteers at our partner institutions, we in turn can help reach their 200 million annual visitors and members, in all 50 states and 45 countries around the world, to stimulate a lasting, measurable, and meaningful respect for our ocean planet.
Reef Check Foundation
The Reef Check Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit dedicated to conservation of two marine ecosystems via citizen science: California rocky reefs and tropical coral reefs. RC carries out an annual survey of California reefs along the entire coast and tropical reefs in 50+ countries.
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
The museum promotes an understanding of nature and indigenous peoples, especially the environment and Indian cultures of California's central coast. They seek to increase awareness of the processes and pressures affecting ecosystems worldwide. Resources: Curriculum guides on marine life, Los Marineros Curriculum, exhibits, variety of programs.
Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission
The Santa Monica Bay Restoration Project was formed in 1988 under the National Estuary Program in response to the crucial problems of the Bay. The SMBRP is charged with the responsibility of assessing the Bay's problems, developing solutions, and putting them into action. Provided funding for developing this previsit guide. Resources: Public summary of the Bay Restoration Plan, posters, brochures and newsletters.
Save Our Beach
A non-profit organization dedicated to improving the water quality along the Southern California coastline that conducts a monthly beach cleanup in Seal Beach. Resources: A list of monthly beach and riverbed cleanups in Orange County, Long Beach and parts of Los Angeles that you are invited to take part in.
Seafood Watch
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a collaborator in this project of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. This program informs consumers about the environmental impacts of the seafood choices they make. Resources: Extensive website with background on seafood sources, a pocket-sized seafood guide to print out and carry with you when you shop.
Stephen Birch Aquarium/Scripps Institute of Oceanography
Resources: Public aquarium, classes for school groups, outreach to school site, public programs, student materials, teacher resources, gift shop/curriculum available, teacher workshops and volunteer opportunities.
Southern California Marine Institute
Resources: Field opportunities, boat trips, classes for school groups, outreach to school site, teacher workshops.
Surfrider Foundation
A national non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection, preservation, and restoration of the world's oceans, waves, and beaches through conservation, activism, research, and education (C.A.R.E.). Resources: Assembly programs available in some areas, local chapters along the coast, volunteer water monitoring.
Newport Bay Conservancy
Resources: Field opportunities, classes for school groups, public programs, student materials, teacher resources, teacher workshops and volunteer opportunities.
USC Sea Grant Program
Resources: Student materials, teacher resources and workshops.
Wrigley Center for Environmental Studies
Located on Catalina Island. Resources: Field opportunities, classes for school groups, curriculum, public programs, teacher resources.