Interdistrict Committee For Project Oceanology

Summer Camps:We enhanced the educational value of our summer camps by refining the themed content offered each week, ensuring unique learning opportunities for both new and returning participants (with approximately 33% of campers returning annually). We also strengthened staff preparation by expanding behavior management training, delivered during both pre-season and mid-season sessions. Camp participation remained strong, with approximately 440 campers, maintaining the increased attendance levels achieved in prior years.School-Year Programs:We expanded our K12 programming by strengthening partnerships and successfully competing for grants that enhance our educational offerings and resources. Our curriculum continues to be updated and aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards to ensure high-quality, standards-based learning. Despite operating with one organizational research vessel instead of two, we maintained service levels comparable to prior years by contracting an additional vessel and increasing the number of licensed captains on staff. These investments improved our capacity to meet growing program demand during both the school year and summer months. Research, Policy, and Community Engagement:We advanced authentic science and environmental education by engaging federal, state, and local policymakers and supporting community-based initiatives. Through a statewide coalition, we secured a subaward to continue removing abandoned and lost lobster traps from Long Island Sound, contributing to peer-reviewed research on marine debris, invasive species, and ecosystem impacts. We deepened our role in regional stewardship by participating in watershed committees, formalizing our membership in the Long Island Sound Partnership Citizens Advisory Committee, and increasing high school internship opportunities in aquaria maintenance. Additionally, we empowered youth voices in ocean policy by leading a second annual delegation to Capitol Hill Ocean Week in Washington, DC, where students shared their perspectives directly with policymakers.