Goals & Curriculum

For nearly three decades, we have provided thousands of students with transformative, hands-on experiences on the Monterey Bay.

Now, we are excited to launch the next wave of ocean education.

Our bold new curriculum is aligned with the latest science standards, grounded in climate science, and designed to empower young people to take informed, meaningful action. Whether you are a teacher, student, or lifelong learner, these lessons build knowledge, spark curiosity, and strengthen our connection to the natural world.

Learning Goals

Do More

OSO programs inspire environmental action

Know More

OSO programs increase ocean literacy

Care More

OSO programs foster connections to the ocean

What’s New?

Grade-Band Lessons
Tailored for 4th, 5th, and 6th grades, our curriculum ensures developmentally appropriate learning that connects seamlessly to classroom instruction.

Place-Based & Globally Relevant
Students explore Monterey Bay’s ecosystems while connecting their observations and data to long-term trends and global environmental issues.

Student-Centered Design
We have streamlined our curriculum from three lessons to two, giving students more time to explore, question, and take ownership of their learning.

Future-Focused & Tech-Driven
Students tackle real-world challenges where ocean science meets innovation, uncovering exciting, interdisciplinary careers in the blue economy.

Pre- & Post-Trip Learning Resources

Coming soon!

Our full curriculum is available online—free of charge—in English, with a Spanish version coming soon, extending ocean literacy and environmental education to students and educators everywhere.

Learning Stations

Marine Science Stations

Students become junior naturalists, observing marine mammals and birds, exploring how adaptations help species survive in the Monterey Bay, and examining how climate change affects local species.

Students investigate how mysterious drifting objects reached the Monterey Bay, exploring plastic pollution’s impact on marine food webs, and planning community-based solutions.

Students explore the connection between land and sea by investigating how ocean color reveals clues about water quality and human health in the Monterey Bay region—bridging ocean science with civic responsibility.

Navigation Stations

By tracking the migration of the Sooty Shearwater with modern navigation tools, students investigate how biological adaptations inspire technological innovation.

Students investigate the physics of buoyancy, wind, and waves—collecting data on board and applying their knowledge by building and testing model boats in varying conditions.

Students explore how people and animals navigate the ocean—using tools from compasses to GPS—while discovering the careers that drive today’s blue economy.