The gray whales are here!!!

Posted on April 21, 2015 by whaleweb

Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation is here!

More than 500 kids splashed down at the Piedras Blancas Field Station today to become part of the gray whale research with the amazing Dave Weller, Wayne Perryman and the rest of the Science Team from Southwest Fisheries Science Center/NOAA. The folks at the Oregon Coast Aquarium Oceanscape Network and the Rangers from the Depoe Bay Whale Center in Oregon are also joining us!

You can join us, too. Go to the Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation tab at the top of this page and a drop down menu will appear. We’ll post the scientists and rangers blogs and also provide links to Oceanscape’s whale videos and other activities.

Click here to read the welcome letter.

Gray Whales…arriving soon!

Posted on April 7, 2015 by whaleweb

Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation Teaser

Join WhaleTimes, Southwest Fisheries Science Center/NOAA and the Oceanscape Network, for Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation, a Virtual Research Mission that connects gray whale biologists with students, teachers, and the public. This event runs April 20 to May 1, 2015.

Creep into the Deepend!

Posted on March 4, 2015 by whaleweb

WhaleTimes is excited to be part of the DEEPEND Project

…a consortium of amazing scientists and organizations studying the Gulf of Mexico deep sea. WhaleTimes will share that science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to you through our Creep into the Deep Virtual Research Missions, Postcards from the Deep, Taking Science Deeper Curriculum, and so much more.

Our first Postcards from the Deep…End arriving this spring.

Our first Creep into the Deep…End cruise, this fall.

Joins WhaleTimes at the DEEPEND, no floaties required!

DEEPEND research, outreach, and education funded by the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative. Thank you!

Learn more about the DEEPEND funding at: http://research.gulfresearchinitiative.org/research-awards/projects/?pid=257

News Splash: Oregon Coast Aquarium’s Oceanscape Network…

Posted on February 21, 2015 by whaleweb

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!

WhaleTimes 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 →

Gray Whales…

Posted on February 11, 2015 by whaleweb

…swimming through your classroom or scout meeting!

Enroll today, space is limited! Find out more: Gray Whales: Celebration of Conservation

Welcome Girl Scouts!

Posted on January 28, 2015 by whaleweb

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!

Meet Amazing Animals and Awesome Scientists in the Deep Sea

Posted on January 13, 2015 by whaleweb

Creep into the Deep

Animals dressed in red velvet, some as transparent as glass, and others that flash and ripple with light so bright they could light a room. Every animal and discovery in the deep is weirder and more wonderful than the next. Only 5% of the ocean has been explored. In order to protect the ocean, there is so much more we must learn. Join us on a mission to investigate how the cool creatures that creep in the deep survive!

Take your STEM curriculum to new depths by participating in Creep into the Deep, WhaleTimes’ original Virtual Research Mission.

For grades 3-6. Teachers, ENROLL TODAY! Space is limited.

Creep into the Deep Missions:

Mission #1: July 19-24, 2015 (registration closed)
Research Project: Vision and Bioluminescence in the Deep-sea Benthos II

Mission #2: September 21-31, 2015
Research Project: Deep-Pelagic Nekton Dynamics of the Gulf of Mexico

For more information visit our Creep into the Deep page or contact us at: creepintothedeep2015 at our website whaletimes.org

Invite gray whale experts into your classroom!

Posted on January 7, 2015 by whaleweb

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

Dr. Dean Grubbs shows off “Big as Life” Thank You for Fintastic Friday!!!

Posted on December 19, 2014 by whaleweb

A six gill shark takes a selfie in the deep

Recently, WhaleTimes Director Ruth Musgrave was invited to visit elementary schools in Oregon City, Oregon to talk about sharks. She discovered the kids in Oregon City LOVE sharks as much as we do.
The kids were inspired to celebrate Fintastic Friday early and send a “Big as Life” thank you to biologists helping sharks.
If you follow the link below you’ll see Dr. Dean Grubbs, Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory, showing off his thank you!Take a look! https://www.facebook.com/FSUCML

Thank you kids — and Dr. Grubbs and our friends at Florida State University Coastal and Marine Laboratory! Together we can save sharks!

Don’t forget to mark your calendar, Fintastic Friday: Giving Sharks, Skates, and Rays a Voice is just months away.

Oh Baby! Gray Whale Calves Galore

Posted on December 2, 2014 by whaleweb

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.