This club will be a fun way to explore the ocean ecosystems of the world together! From the narwhals of the Arctic to the penguins of Antarctica and so much more in between. We will discuss some of the most interesting creatures on earth, such as the sea otters of the kelp forests, the manatees of the mangroves, the puffins of the open ocean, and the giant squids hiding in deep sea trenches. 

Learners will become familiar with ocean ecology, food webs, and the unique biodiversity of earth's ocean ecosystems through games, crafts, science experiments, discussions, and slideshows. Naturalist terms will be introduced that describe animal behavior (eg: carnivore, nocturnal), as well as animal classification terms (eg: invertebrate, amphibian, etc). Listen to animal vocalizations, identify natural objects, and even occasionally meet live animals. The underwater world is full of so many fascinating animals to explore together! 

The beginning of each class will be an opportunity for introductions, sharing, and guided discussion. Students may bring items to class to share related to marine science such as shells, ocean animal toys or stuffed animals, pictures, artwork, etc. Supplemental art and/or science project suggestions will be included based on the weekly theme.  

Each class will be different from, and independent of every other class. During ongoing classes, learners can attend either one or all of the classes, and can join in at any time. 

The 2024 weekly schedule is below;

September 23: Arctic Ocean
September 30: Kelp Forests
October 7: Tidepools
October 14: Mangrove Forests
October 21: Beaches and Barrier Islands
October 28: Coral Reef Fish 
November 4: Hawaii & Volcanic Island Reefs
November 11: Red Sea
November 18: Coral Types: The Great Barrier Reef
November 25: Hydrothermal vents
December 2: Deep Ocean Trench
December 9: Open Ocean
December 16: Antarctica

The following Nature Explorers animals may occasionally make live appearances: 
Scaly: the Corn Snake
Slimy: the Tiger Salamander
Lizzie: The Leopard Gecko

Classes may run up to five minutes over the scheduled time depending on learner discussion and questions.