ECHO

Since 2002, the New Bedford Oceanarium and the New Bedford Whaling Museum have been working together on an education initiative funded by the U. S. Department of Education. This program, called ECHO (Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations Program), brings together the coastal communities of Alaska, Hawai’i and Massachusetts. Other partners in the ECHO initiative include the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the Iñupiat Heritage Center in Alaska, the Bishop Museum in Hawai’i and the Peabody Essex Museum in Massachusetts.

Connecting Oceans Academy

An important part of ECHO is the COA
(Connecting Oceans Academy), an
innovative, full-year, professional
development program, that offers teams
of teachers from different disciplines a
unique opportunity to explore the historic
and contemporary ties between the
diverse cultures of coastal Alaska,
Hawai’i and Massachusetts. Participants
receive support and guidance from the
Center for University, School and
Community Partnerships, as well as
specialist educators, scientists, historians
and scholars.

EnviroLab

The EnviroLab provides a unique
on-water learning experience.
The ECHO project, in collaboration
with Project Oceanology, brings the
Enviro-Lab to New Bedford for six
weeks each summer to take
school and youth groups out into
Buzzard’s Bay for hands-on
research about the characteristics
of the ocean.

If you would like to know more about ECHO or one of its many associated educational programs, please contact us at info@oceanexplorium.org.