As a kid growing up in the urban setting of Bridgeport, Connecticut, I developed a life-long passion for nature and science.  How, might you ask, did this city girl develop a love for nature?  Well, it began with family trips to a local beach.  There I would spend hours in the waters of Long Island Sound, scouring the shore for “mis tesoros’, “my treasures”.  My family fostered my ocean love by enrolling me in after-school programs and camps geared towards marine science.  And let me tell you, I had so much fun in those programs!  I learned how to sail, perform water samples, and I studied marine animals. These trips furthered my scientific curiosity, provided me with a strong foundation in hands-on science and stewardship, and gave me memories that will last a lifetime.

Now fast forward to my senior year of high school, everyone I knew was deciding on either work or college.  I never struggled with this decision. “I’m going to college to be a marine biologist” I would tell people.  I felt unafraid and unabashed at saying this, because I had foundational experiences that paved the road.  College wasn’t always easy, but I had family, friends, mentors, and those early memories to remind me of what I was striving for.

I first came to the Ocean Explorium as a volunteer and now have an exciting position as one of their Environmental Educators.  I am eager to come to work, because I talk with and teach people of all ages and backgrounds.  I share with them my knowledge and passion for the environment and help nurture their interests, too.  And here is where my story comes full circle, because just as I once received someone else’s nurturing, I now am able to mentor youth and maintain relationships with New Bedford families long after our programming finishes.

I joined the Ocean Explorium because I believe in its mission to establish New Bedford as an ocean science and stewardship center.  I have seen this organization successfully provide dynamic and engaging experiences to disadvantaged youth, connecting hands-on learning with technological tools and the opportunity to meet and work with scientists, engineers, and educators.  I’ve also seen the Ocean Explorium provide a sense of place for the public to meet, exchange ideas, and spread science information.

The Global Voice and Girls Interested in Real Life Science (GIRLS) Speaker Series engage and empower the New Bedford community.  Through partnerships with local schools, businesses, and state and federal institutions, the Ocean Explorium is accessing the very best resources and investing those resources into educating and enriching New Bedford.  I can attest to the value of their investment in our youth and community members.  I see students improving in their studies and feeling excited about their future opportunities.  Families come together to learn and participate in educational outreach and stewardship.  They show integrity and persistence, and contribute their skills and services wherever they go.  The Ocean Explorium gives them all a place to learn, contribute, and inspire.

The Ocean Explorium is a vital resource in our community and it needs your support to continue offering cutting edge educational opportunities.  Together we can revitalize our city and build a stronger future.

Please help the Ocean Explorium provide Education for All.  Donate today!

The Ocean Explorium announced a community-wide fundraising campaign to ‘Save Your Ocean Explorium, Build Your Future’. Executive Director Abbey Spargo stated that, as the name suggests, the campaign is necessary to keep the Ocean Explorium open and providing enriching educational programs for all.

Ms. Spargo stated that “The Ocean Explorium will be communicating its message in many parts and through various mechanisms. We will highlight the Ocean Explorium’s impact on the region, what the Ocean Explorium means to each SouthCoast resident, and how the Ocean Explorium affects your future.”

“We will be sharing information each week about a particular ‘Save Your Ocean Explorium’ theme.  This week’s theme captures everything the Ocean Explorium does:  Education for All.  We hope the community will follow our story in newspapers, on radio, at our website, and through our blog and Facebook.”

The Ocean Explorium provides a broad range of educational experiences suitable for all ages and abilities.  Through innovative programming and public access to its Science on a Sphere®, the Ocean Explorium has become a vital resource for the SouthCoast region.  Field trips to the Ocean Explorium, appropriate for every grade and accessible to every school district in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, have a profound impact on students’ understanding of our earth and ocean.  In addition, the Ocean Explorium has actively pursued funds specifically for community outreach, including complimentary admission, to share its programs with students and families who otherwise would not be able to enjoy them.

Darcy Fernandes, Principal of Roosevelt Middle School, stated “The Ocean Explorium has been a leader in the New Bedford school district in helping to promote science related careers with students.  They have had the willingness to target students often not interested in these fields. These students have left their program more open to a career in these areas and more excited about exploring the world of science.”

The Ocean Explorium inspires students to pursue higher education and careers in science with the Girls Interested in Real Life Science (GIRLS) speaker series and after-school program.  The Global Voice evening education series introduces adult learners to area faculty and professionals and their work in applied research or the fine arts.  Young Ocean Explorers, Exploration Camps, and other programs offer youngsters and youth an opportunity to dive deeper into learning.

The Ocean Explorium is one of many institutions providing students and families with engaging programs aligned with its mission and vision.  What makes the Ocean Explorium unique is its ability to use high-tech, cutting edge data as a tool for educating learners of all ages.  Ms. Spargo added:  ”The Ocean Explorium has delivered on its promise to create in New Bedford a center for ocean science public education.  We are earning recognition from local and state education leadership and from national-level funding agencies.  We intend to become the center for informal education in the critical STEM fields of science, technology, engineering and math.”

This vision for the continued success can only be realized with the help of the SouthCoast community.  According to Al Dias, President of the Board of Trustees, the ‘Save Your Ocean Explorium, Build Your Future’ campaign must succeed.  ”It is essential to keep the doors open, to continue providing educational experiences not only for paying guests, and for students and their teachers, but also for children and families who visit the Ocean Explorium through community-based organizations.  Every dollar counts:  We need every contribution, big and small, to achieve our fundraising goals.”

Ms. Spargo stated “An anonymous donor issued the Ocean Explorium a challenge match of $50,000 if $100,000 is raised by July 1. Only gifts from individual donors – rather than grants or corporate sponsorships – received before the deadline will count toward the match.  However, all contributions will bring us closer to our fundraising goal of $300,000 and help us keep providing Education for All.”

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The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance. Seasonal Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm; Summer Hours, in July and August only, are Tuesday throughSunday, 10 am to 4 pm.  Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and students with I.D., and $6.50 for children between 3 and 17 years of age.  Children under 3 and members are free.  To learn more, call 508.994.5400 or visit www.oceanexplorium.org

“It is not enough to raise the funds previously provided by the University” said Ms. Spargo.  ”The Ocean Explorium needs to do more in order to grow and to continue offering cutting edge educational opportunities for students, families, teachers, and the public across the SouthCoast.  We are aggressively pursuing grants, foundations, corporate sponsors, and other sources of revenue, and now we must ask our friends, our members, and the community at large for their support.”

Maureen Sylvia Armstrong, President of Sylvia and Company Insurance Agency and a founding member of the Board of Trustees, shares Ms. Spargo’s confidence but cautions that, unless significant funds are raised, the Ocean Explorium cannot remain open.  ”We worked so hard to open and to expand our exhibits; we built a reputation for excellence and earned recognition as an educational resource for the SouthCoast and beyond.  The Ocean Explorium has successfully pursued funding from some of the strongest foundations and federal agencies.  It is too important to fail.  It cannot be allowed to simply fade away.  Every dollar counts.  Donate today – in person, by mail, or online at oceanexplorium.org - and ‘Save Your Ocean Explorium, Build Your Future’ “.

Click here to donate today!

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The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance.  Seasonal Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm; Summer Hours, in July and August only, are Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.  Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and students with I.D., and $6.50 for children between 3 and 17 years of age.  Children under 3 and members are free.  The Science on a Sphere® exhibit is provided by the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. To learn more, call 508.994.5400 or visit www.oceanexplorium.org.

The Ocean Explorium has been selected to participate in the Free Fun Fridays program funded by the Highland Street Foundation.  Participating venues are chosen through a competitive application process, which the Ocean Explorium pursued in order to provide access for families in the community who might not otherwise be able to visit.  On Friday, August 9, the Ocean Explorium will open its doors at no cost for the entire day.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of the program, with a record number of 60 institutions participating.  Each Friday, from June 28 through August 30, six cultural institutions will open free of charge.  Last year more than 145,000 people visited one of 50 Free Fun Fridays venues.

Highland Street Foundation will announce the 2013 Free Fun Fridays program schedule during a statewide telephone press conference call on Tuesday, May 14, at 11:30 am.  The press conference will highlight the educational and cultural opportunities that Free Fun Fridays provides to families.  Matthew Malone, Massachusetts Secretary of Education, and Joshua Kraft, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Boston, will participate in the discussion.

Media representatives interested in joining the statewide telephone press conference should email Alex DeBlois of VOX Global at ADeBlois@voxglobal.com for dial-in information.

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The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance.  Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and students with I.D., and $6.50 for children between 3 and 17 years of age.  Children under 3 and members are Free!

The Science on a Sphere® exhibit is provided and maintained by principal partner, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.  Visit the Ocean Explorium website, www.oceanexplorium.org, or call 508.994.5400 for program schedules, directions or other information.

The Ocean Explorium would like to thank everyone who helped make April Vacation a fun and rewarding experience.  The Ocean Explorium   celebrated Earth Week last week.  Guests visiting during April vacation had an opportunity to plant seeds, learn about wind power, and much more at Explorer’s Zone.

The fun did not stop at Explorer’s Zone, however.  Our aquarist and education team developed new and exciting demonstrations.  The morning octopus demonstration provided guests the opportunity to learn about our eight-legged friend within her habitat, and she was more than ready to put on a show for our smiling guests.

In the afternoon guests witnessed a squid dissection, while using the squid ink and the backbone of the squid to experiment with writing.  Although it was a messy task, it was fun for all who were brave enough to get their hands dirty.

Don’t forget April Vacation Camp and the Buzzards Bay Top to Bottom boat trip.  From the moment they arrived each morning, Campers were eager to explore all the Ocean Explorium has to offer.  Lead by educator, Allison Knox, the campers played water cycle charades, made their own paper, learned from Science on a Sphere®, received a behind the scenes tour, and even hopped aboard the Zephyr marine research vessel for an exclusive look at Buzzards Bay-above and below the surface.

Here’s what parents and students had to say:

“It’s a fantastic experience”—Anonymous

“The camp was well run and filled with educational activities disguised as fun!”—Jenny

“It was awesome.” –camper age 7

“It was very fun!”—camper age 12

Did you participate in any of the Ocean Explorium’s April vacation week programs?  Please share your experiences, and any suggestions you may have to improve our programs.

Stay tuned for more information about the Ocean Explorium’s first summer camp!

Leave a comment and tell us what is your favorite part of the Science-On-A-Sphere®?  Do you have a favorite data set that blew you away?  Share it with us.  Learn more about Science on a Sphere®

Celebrate ‘Earth Week’ at the Ocean Explorium during April school vacation, with themed programs and activities each day, leading up to Earth Day on April 22.

Science experiments, hands-on learning activities, arts and crafts, and special Science on a Sphere® presentations will all highlight our planet and demonstrate such earthly phenomena as currents and climate, the moving earth, and more.

A week-long ‘Exploration Camp’ is also planned, for students 6 to 12 years of age, from 9 until noon each day.  Each morning, campers will engage with the living exhibits before the Ocean Explorium opens for the day.  They will also create science projects, art works and, on Wednesday, take a two-hour excursion to explore New Bedford’s inner and outer harbor, above and below the surface.

Earth Day celebrations begin early this year, with the Earth Eve Parade on AHA! Night, Thursday, April 11.  This annual event in downtown New Bedford will include an Ocean Explorium float created by UMass Dartmouth students, featuring Science on a Sphere®.

The Ocean Explorium will be open every day during vacation week, from Monday, April 15, through Friday, April 19, 10 am to 4 pm.  Daily activities include fish feedings, Sphere presentations, guided tours, touch tanks, and great learning opportunities from our educators.
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The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance. Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and students with I.D., and $6.50 for children between 3 and 17 years of age. Children under 3 and members are Free!

The Science on a Sphere® exhibit is provided and maintained by principal partner, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.  Visit the Ocean Explorium website, www.oceanexplorium.org, or call 508.994.5400 for program schedules, directions or other information.

Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy III assembled a group of educators, business leaders and other advocates in Needham yesterday to share a conversation about the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering and math.  As a member of the House Committee on Science and Technology, Congressman Kennedy is deeply committed to STEM and hopes to contribute to the impressive work already being done in his district and across Massachusetts.

Abbey Spargo welcomed the opportunity to represent the Ocean Explorium and to share her experiences.  As Executive Director of the informal, ocean-focused science center in downtown New Bedford, Ms. Spargo spoke of the benefits of out-of-school-time learning as a needed boost for students who may be underperforming or under-represented in STEM to maintain their place among their peers.  In particular, Ms. Spargo highlighted the role of Informal Science Education Centers, such as the Ocean Explorium, as a strategic partner with the school districts, states and the nation in raising the level of educational attainment and providing opportunities for STEM learning.  Ms. Spargo was impressed with demonstrations by robotics teams from Needham and Newton high schools, and found the Roundtable conversation enlightening.

“I was pleased to be able to speak with colleagues, in business as well as education, about the continuing need for academic attainment in STEM. Congressman Kennedy is a ready listener and made it clear that his interest is genuine and reflects a real desire to be helpful” Ms. Spargo stated.  ”The Ocean Explorium is a valued STEM resource for the students in the SouthCoast, and I was glad to hear from others about their communities and programs.”

Representatives of military-based education programs addressed efforts to inspire students in the STEM fields.  The need for a firm foundation in science, technology, engineering and math extends to the military services as well as business, and they have become pro-active in reaching students at an early age.  Both the STARBASE and STEM AVSED programs were represented, providing further evidence of the need for STEM-literate graduates and the variety of successful approaches to introducing the subjects to students.

The event was hosted by PTC Product and Service Advantage, a software manufacturer and services provider.  PTC makes software available to students, like the robotics teams, to enhance their skills and to inspire them to pursue higher education in the STEM fields.

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The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance.  Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and students with I.D., and $6.50 for children between 3 and 17 years of age.  Children under 3 and members are Free!

The Science on a Sphere® exhibit is provided and maintained by principal partner, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.  Visit the Ocean Explorium website,www.oceanexplorium.org, or call 508.994.5400 for program schedules, directions or other information.

The Ocean Explorium is pleased to offer New Bedford Elementary School teachers a ten-hour Professional Development workshop, STEMming Across Gaps, designed to connect Elementary curriculum with the wealth of marine resources available in the Ocean Explorium.  The workshops will run on Wednesdays, April 10 and 24, and May 8 and 22, from 3:30 to 6:00 PM in the Ocean Explorium.

Through the generosity of the Jacobs Family Foundation, each teacher can earn up to ten PDP’s in either Science or Art and, upon successful completion of the program, be able to bring up to 50 students in a Field Trip to the Ocean Explorium in the autumn of 2013.

“The Ocean Explorium is grateful to the Jacobs Family Foundation for funding this incredible opportunity for New Bedford elementary school teachers, who can earn Professional Development Points as well as a free field trip for their students” stated Abbey Spargo, Executive Director.  ”Teacher training is critically important, not only for the skills enhancement for the educators, but for the impact this program will have on New Bedford schoolchildren.  If 20 teachers take the workshop, and each teacher interacts with 50 students per academic year, and each teacher uses the curriculum for five years, then a total of 5,000 students will be reached by this grant.”

New Bedford elementary school teachers are invited to register for this Professional Development opportunity by calling the Ocean Explorium office at 508.994.5400.

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The Ocean Explorium is located at 174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap accessible via the rear entrance.  Hours are Thursday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm.  Admission is $8.50 for adults, $7.00 for seniors and students with I.D., and $6.50 for children between 3 and 17 years of age.  Children under 3 and members are free.

The Science on a Sphere® exhibit is generously provided by our principal partner, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. To learn more, go to www.oceanexplorium.org or call 508.994.5400.

The terrific thing about PBS© children’s programming is that the shows are entertaining and educational.  We’re all busy, and it is tempting, and for many parents a necessity, to plop the children in front of the TV while we carry on with our daily routine.  PBS© provides an opportunity to spend time with your children, but at least if you have to plop them down they are watching something positive, and educational.

If you’re tired of watching the Kratt brothers with your little ones, the Ocean Explorium has its own team of adventurers dedicated to exploring our Octopus within her habitat.  If you like to watch the Wild Kratts™, there is no need to ask your children.  I am sharing one of my favorite Wild Kratts™ snippets, and a video or our eight-legged friend.