On January 6 Pauline Seales talked with Krista Rogers, Education & Outreach Coordinator for Save Our Shores, about Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the new virtual reality middle school education program they are piloting.
Krista studied Marine Biology at UCSC and worked at the Seymour Center before joining Save Our Shores.
She explained the establishment of a series of MPAs along the CA coast. The new middle school program called DIVE was developed in partnership with Virtual Planet Technologies and Oceans 360. In the VR experience students join an animated sea lion named Marina on a fun and educational journey through four different CA MPAS. Students discover their connection with the system of California Marine Protected Areas, become environmental stewards of our coastal and ocean habitats, and experience what Marine Protected Areas look like underneath the water’s surface.
Here in our region the program can be experienced in person 
through virtual reality headsets, delivered along with an accompanying lesson by Save Our Shores staff.
Interested middle school teachers should email at krista@saveourshores.org
They also discussed our local MPA, Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve and other programs by Save Our Shores including year round beach clean-ups.
links : https://saveourshores.org/education/ click on
Middle School: Dive: An Inspiring Journey through California’s Marine Protected Areas. DIVE trailer:
