From responding to entangled whales to collecting vital research data in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, our team works to protect marine mammals and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.

Education & Outreach

Did You Know?

Many children who live in the surrounding communities never get to see the ocean; to learn about marine mammals; to have a first hand experience on the water and actually see whales, dolphins and other marine wildlife; to learn how much the world really needs them to become environmental stewards.

To meet this need, Marine Life Studies presents educational programs to children in schools, camps, and special events. Marine Life Studies' Ocean Literacy Educational Programs include the environmental and health hazards of marine debris, water and shore cleanups, marine wildlife entanglement, marine life research, photo ID and data collection, GPS positioning, and study and observation of marine wildlife in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Peggy Stap, Founder and Director of Research and Education has developed marine life studies educational programs for children.

  • Marine Life Studies' Ocean Literacy Educational Programs have been presented by Peggy Stap, Stephanie Marcos and other Marine Life Studies' educators to students in elementary school, high school and college in Monterey/Santa Cruz/Merced/San Benito/Santa Clara Counties plus the San Francisco Bay Area in California since 2006. 

  • Many students in the communities that we serve — particularly in inland and economically disadvantaged areas of Monterey, San Benito, and southern Santa Clara Counties — have limited access to hands-on STEM learning, marine science exposure, and career pathways in environmental fields. Despite living near one of the most biologically significant marine ecosystems in the world, many youth have never visited the coast or participated in real scientific fieldwork. Many of the students we reach are from low-income households, first-generation college pathways, and communities historically underrepresented in STEM fields.

  • Marine Life Studies has been a Community Partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County since 2010 and provide free Marine Life Studies' Ocean Literacy Educational Programs to the children in the Monterey County communities of Monterey, Seaside, Salinas, and Marina, California.

  • Marine Life Studies presented educational programs at the BLUE Ocean Film Festival in Monterey, California: Squid Eaters of Monterey Bay, Help Save the Ocean from Marine Debris, Take It To the Streets Community Cleanup™, Junior Research Scientist Program, Try Your Hand at Whale Disentanglement, and Learn to be a Whale Researcher with Photo Identification. 
  •  
  • Marine Mammal Research Science and Technology and Marine Debris Educational Programs were presented by Peggy Stap at Whale Quest Kapalua in Maui 2006-2009
  •  
  •  Marine Life Studies developed the Marine Life Studies Whale and Marine Wildlife Adventure and the Marine Life Studies Junior Research Scientist Program in cooperation with the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District.
  •  
  • Peggy Stap (Marine Life Studies) and Mary Whitney (Fluke Foundation) cofounded the Whale Entanglement Team (WET)® of Northern California to provide disentanglement education and trainings.

​Marine Life Studies' Junior Research Scientist Program™

The Marine Life Studies Junior Research Scientist Program™ is a series of classes where children how to research whales and dolphins on the Monterey Bay. Exciting hands-on activities include: research techniques, photo identification, data collection, GPS positioning and a whale watch on Monterey Bay to practice newly learned research techniques. 

​Educational Program Topics Include:

  •  Marine Wildlife Facts and Statistics
  •  Information, Photos, Video and Details about Marine Wildlife Entanglement
  •  Marine Life Studies Educational Programs
  •  Facts About Man-made Disasters, Hazards and Pollution, and the Effects on Marine Wildlife in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
  •  Humpback Whale Fluke Identification; Killer Whale and Dolphin Markings and Dorsal Identification
  •  Marine Wildlife Stories about Peggy's dog, Whiskie the Whale Spotter™

To learn more about Marine Life Studies educational programs, please contact us.

Peggy Stap, Marine Life Studies Founder and Director of Research and Education, hands out class completion certificate packages which include information, pictures of whales and dolphins and an origami whale kit.

​Joey Jones Scholarship and Educational Fund

Classes and educational programs are funded in part through the Marine Life Studies Joey Jones Scholarship and Educational Fund in honor of Moss Landing resident and commercial fisherman, Joey Jones, who lost his life at sea April 3, 2008.

Joey’s love of the sea and fishing was the inspiration for the scholarship. He wanted to bridge the gap between the marine science and commercial fishing communities through cooperation, dialogue, education and research. Learn more about Joey.

DONATE TODAY

To donate over the phone, contact us. If you would rather make a
     donation by check or money order, please send to:
     Marine Life Studies, PO Box 163, Moss Landing, CA 95039