Then & Now By Judy Salamacha
Spring Break for San Luis Obispo schools is looming, and before we can count the seashells, Summer Break will be here. So, what to do with the kiddos?
The Central Coast has many resources. For example, the Central Coast Aquarium (CCA) has hands-on marine education opportunities for schoolchildren K-12. On weekends, the Avila-based aquarium is open to the public, exhibiting over 50 species of local sea life.
Executive Director, Tara Kasarjian said, “While school is in session students from across six counties are bused to the aquarium for ocean discovery labs or floating marine lab lessons in San Luis Obispo Bay. Volunteer docents teach about the ecology of marine life and Central Coast aquatic environments. Our goal is to educate today’s generation to become ocean stewards for future generations.”
April 17-21, full or half day camp registration is available for children in kindergarten through third grade. Each day has a unique lesson with catchy titles: Crazy Camouflage, Tidepool Treasures, Mighty Migrators, Shark Frenzy and Swashbuckling Scavengers.
Beginning June 12 similar, week-long and more in-depth summer camps are offered for grades K-2, third-fifth grades, and the teen programs for sixth-ninth graders. Check out the details at www.centralcoastaquarium.com.
For over 20 years, CCA marine education programs have steadily grown Kasarjian explained. “In 1994, a local couple, Russ and Carol Kiessig, founded a non-profit organization called the Avila Beach Marine Institute,” she said. “The couple had purchased a defunct historical site in 1976 and redeveloped it into Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort with hot springs, hot tub rentals and lodging at the Avila Valley Inn, plus the Gardens of Avila Restaurant and lounge. They sold it in 2003.
“Their vision for the marine institute was to provide opportunities for local students to learn about the ocean hoping to share their passion for marine education and stewardship,” Kasarjian said.
The organization began teaching marine science lessons on San Luis Bay sport fishing vessels to visiting school groups and pier-side at the Avila Pier in Avila Beach. Soon they outgrew the space and moved above the Old Port Inn on the Harford Pier.
In 1998, Unocal began an extensive cleanup of decades-old oil seepage and community funds allowed the institute to move to its current location next to the park in Avila. It was renamed the Avila Beach Sea Life Center. Marine life education also continued with ocean excursions off the Harford Pier for school children from San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Kern, Kings and Monterey Counties.
Kasarjian is supported by a small but knowledgeable staff of marine biologists. Emily Sampson, director of husbandry, is a U.C. San Diego graduate. Aquarium Manager, Taylor Bodine, went to Cooks University, Australia, and Program Director, Travis Norton, graduated from Cal Poly. Strong partnerships and board representation comes from Cal Poly and the community at large.
“Adding educational aquarium tanks to the first floor has become a perfect teaching tool for the visiting school groups,” Kasarjian said. In 2010, the organization opened to the public on weekends optimizing visitor growth in 2013 from 3,600 visitors to 13,000 visitors per year and 25,000 by 2015.
“Public interest in marine education continues to grow and we’re busting out of our seams in Avila. When the City of Morro Bay posted a MOU [memorandum of understanding], to build a new site where the Morro Bay Aquarium currently leases, we saw an opportunity to expand. It’s a major investment.”
Kasajian noted they recently spent $50,000 for a new tank filtration system. “But with 200,000 Morro Bay Aquarium visitors each year, if we capture only a percentage, we believe we will increase our public outreach and be able to expand the education programs we have developed over 20 years. We also hope to preserve the legacy created by the Tyler Family, the current owners.”
The lease for the Morro Bay Aquarium expires in September 2018. CCA has applied for and received preliminary approval for a $20 million USDA loan, however, a feasibility study must be completed before final approval and funding. (This story was reported in the March 9 Bay News. Managing Editor, Neil Farrell’s story, with Kasarjian, CCA Board Chairman, King Lee and Morro Bay City officials, provided an update to this ongoing story.)
Kasarjian added, “We’ve raised $20,000 of the $40,000 we need. If anyone is interested in donating to the feasibility study fund for a new aquarium in Morro Bay email me at: [email protected].”
Freelance writer, columnist and author, Judy Salamacha can be reached at: [email protected] or call (805) 801-1422. Her Then & Now column is a regular feature of Simply Clear Marketing & Media.
