News Splash: Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Oceanscape Network…

WhaleTimes and Oregon Coast Aquarium Bring Ocean Research to the Classroom!

It’s time for kids of all ages to become an ocean explorer, adventurer, and scientist without getting wet! WhaleTimes, Inc. is excited to announce it is expanding its Virtual Research Mission audience by teaming with Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Oceanscape Network!

FBWhaleTimeGrayWhales ONLY USE WITH AQ OR DO NOT SHARE Or use for programWhaleTimes has taken k-7 kids to research sites in Antarctica, California, and the deep sea through our Virtual Research Mission program…and now Oregon Coast is joining us on our next adventures with gray whales and the deep sea!

Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Oceanscape Network (ON) connects young people to science and nature using technology as a bridge. Launched early last year, ON is a free educational resource which allows teachers to build online student communities, facilitate inquiry-based science in their classrooms, and access a variety of natural history resources about the ocean, its species, ecosystems and conservation concerns. Continue reading

Welcome Girl Scouts!

Go Gray Whales! Go Girl Scouts!

Exciting news!  The Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington are joining us for Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation! We know these amazing young women will take their enthusiasm and love of whales and share it with others to protect our seas! We know their insightful questions will keep our Science Team from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center on their toes!

Here’s the announcement from The Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington :

April 20- May 1, 2015 Daisy- Ambassador (age appropriate materials)

Are you interested in the ocean and the beautiful creatures that dwell within? Did you know that a gray whale is 45 ft long – that’s longer than a school bus! (A newborn calf is as long as a Jeep!) Have you ever wondered what it would be like to know more about whales, or follow them on their fantastic journey as they travel through the seas? Join WhaleTimes for their Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation Virtual Research Mission and be connected with scientists that do this very thing, and get first-hand insider knowledge of the whales,  their habits and movements. You can see photos, interact with scientists, ask questions and get answers in this digital pen-pal style event no matter where you live! Interested?

Girl Scouts can be any age level (Daisy- Ambassador) and live in any location in our council and still experience this unique opportunity! Spaces are limited so sign up today!

Council Wide FREE

Have questions or want to sign up? Troop leaders contact WhaleTimes graywhales2015@whaletimes.org  (You can sign up as an individual troop member, but you must have your parent/guardian contact us.)

Go Gray Whales! Go Girl Scouts!

Invite gray whale experts into your classroom!

Gray whale poster weblg

Gray Whale: Celebration of Conservation Poster

Be part of WhaleTimes next Virtual Research Mission…

Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation

Students connect with Southwest Fisheries Science Center-NOAA (SWFSC) biologists at the Piedras Blancas (California) field station. This is the third year SWFSC scientists have invited classrooms ‘into’ the gray whale research station. Students learn about the importance of monitoring and counting mother-calf pairs, photo identification of individual whales, and more.

Mission Date: April 20 to May 1, 2015

To register or find out about classroom scholarships contact: graywhales2015 this URL

Oh Baby! Gray Whale Calves Galore

Gray whale and calf swimming north.

Gray whale and calf swimming north.

In 2014, researchers counted 431 newborn gray whale calves. The story of the eastern gray whales, from endangered to thriving, is a beacon of hope for other conservation efforts.

Once nearly extinct, conservation efforts lead to the eastern Pacific gray whale population rebounding and its eventual removal from the endangered species list in 1994. Today, about 20,000 of these bus-sized beauties thrive along the Pacific Coast of North America. That’s a definite cause for celebration!

Join us in April to follow gray whale moms and newborn calves heading north to their feeding grounds.

WhaleTimes’  Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation highlights the astounding success of the gray whale recovery and current research to monitor the gray whale population.

Teachers…enroll today! This program is free to schools, but has limited space. Find out more. Contact us at:  graywhales2015 this URL.