ExplorOcean Receives Whale Tail Grant From California Coastal Commission

NEWPORT BEACH, CA--(Marketwired - Apr 1, 2014) - As America's premier nonprofit ocean literary cultural institution, ExplorOcean seeks to develop an understanding of the interconnectedness between humans and the ocean and to empower people to protect and restore this vital resource. The California Coastal Commission recently honored ExplorOcean's educational programs with a prestigious grant award as the #1 California-based nonprofit serving children with a Whale Tail grant for its "Ocean Literacy for All" program.

The "Ocean Literacy for All" program teaches the 7 principles of ocean literacy through hands-on and real-world activities for K-12 students enrolled in the KidWorks program in Santa Ana, Calif. All children will have the opportunity to participate in the ocean literacy curriculum that begins through an after-school program and continues into summer with single- and multi-day camps at ExplorOcean and in the field (back bay estuary, Balboa beach, Catalina Island, Corona del Mar Tide pools, etc.). The WhaleTail grant will serve approximately 400 at-risk youth and result in the students gaining an appreciation and understanding of the state's diverse marine and coastal environments from a perspective of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

"We're very pleased to be the top California-based nonprofit recipient of the California Coastal Commission's Whale Tail grant in our category," says ExplorOcean CEO Tom Pollack. "The Whale Tail grant allows our director of education, Dr. Wendy Marshall and her team to continue our important work exposing underserved and at-risk K-12 students to our many enriching ocean literacy programs and activities -- ultimately offering them the critical thinking and problem solving skills they'll need for today's 21^st century job market."

ExplorOcean is located at 600 East Bay Ave., Newport Beach, Calif.

ABOUT EXPLOROCEAN: ExplorOcean, America's premier ocean literacy center, offers a world-class ocean literacy platform and cultural destination where visitors can immerse themselves in interactive exhibitions devised to develop the curious explorer within. ExplorOcean's high quality programs which are grounded in the seven principles of ocean literacy and in STEM content include single day camps, multi-day camps, classes, monthly lectures and an impressive underwater robotics program developed by the director of education, Dr. Wendy Marshall. Headquartered on the Balboa Peninsula between the sparkling Pacific Ocean and the bustling Newport Harbor, the center's nearly two-acre location is the perfect place for people of all ages to learn about the seven seas. For more information about ExplorOcean, please visit www.ExplorOcean.org.