Hands-on Education

National marine sanctuaries are living classrooms where students and teachers can learn about the importance of our marine environments.

A student participates in the Sanctuary Explorer Program. Through hands-on activities, students learn about the treasures hidden beneath the waves and why they are protected by our national marine sanctuaries. Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA

Ocean Guardian Schools make a commitment to the protection and conservation of their local watersheds, the world’s ocean, and special ocean areas like national marine sanctuaries. Here, a student participates in a project to remove invasive species and plant native species on California beaches. Photo: David J. Ruck/NOAA

Sanctuary education programs work with teachers, students and communities across the nation to make the connection between America’s waterways and our ocean treasures. Here, educators from the Atlanta metro area follow Georgia’s rivers and streams that lead to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary as part of the annual “Rivers to Reefs” workshop. Photo: Gail Krueger/NOAA