With support from the Julia R. Brown Education and Research Fund, MAS Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (MBC) student Savannah Franklin Rey developed and translated a hands-on marine conservation curriculum for Sail for Reefs in Puerto Rico and traveled there to lead a facilitator workshop for local educators. Designed to connect K–12 students with coral reefs through place-based learning, the project combines classroom materials, 3D-printed coral models, and community collaboration to make marine science more accessible and meaningful. The experience reinforced Savannah’s commitment to creating inclusive conservation education for young people in Puerto Rico, San Diego, and beyond.
My capstone project involved developing a place-based curriculum for the non-profit organization Sail for Reefs in Puerto Rico, which focuses on coral restoration and aquatic recreation. The curriculum is a hands-on educational tool that Sail for Reefs will use to implement its mission of demystifying the ocean and creating connections between Puerto Rican youth and marine conservation. This project included developing the curriculum and accompanying materials, as well as hosting a workshop to train local educators to facilitate them. The Julia R. Brown Education and Research Fund supported both the development and translation of materials and the travel to host the workshop in Puerto Rico.
Hosting the facilitator workshop was an incredibly impactful experience as an educator and person who wants to continue working in the conservation space. This project is unique in that Sail for Reefs is partnering with local educators within the Catholic school system with the intention of reaching learners through a faith-based lens. As an educator, I know that it is very important to create materials with your audience’s prior knowledge in mind and how impactful it is to have those materials taught by a trusted community member. I believe that this is an innovative way to teach about marine ecosystems that has the potential to reach learners it may not have reached otherwise.
The most striking aspect of my experience was the impact of the 3D printed materials that we made for the activities in the lesson plans. I made 3D printed models of local coral species in order to bring an aspect of the ocean into the classroom, and when we ran through the activities during the workshop, the enthusiasm from the local educators was the most incredible feedback I could have asked for. This taught me the impact of hands-on, place-based education, especially for those who have historically been disconnected from their environment. I am so excited to follow this program’s journey into the classroom and hear how the students react.
The most important lesson that I learned through this experience was the importance of community collaboration in education and the conservation space. During the workshop, I was offered supportive feedback that strengthened the curriculum. I am extremely passionate about making marine conservation education accessible to all young people, and hope to bring the skills that I learned through this project back to my own community in San Diego and beyond. I learned that it is important to establish a foundational connection to an ecosystem, and for this curriculum, that was focusing on the ecosystem services that coral reefs provide, acting as natural infrastructure protecting coastal communities. This could also be how coastal ecosystems provide fishery habitat for important fisheries or bring economic support to communities through tourism.
Going forward, I hope to create a place-based, hands-on marine conservation K-12 curriculum for San Diego, and I now know the methodology of how to go about this. This includes conducting a literature review, exploring existing curriculum and materials, developing lesson plans, training facilitators how to administer the curriculum, and piloting the materials with students.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the funding support through this experience. This project has the potential to reach young people spanning grades kindergarten through 12th grade in Puerto Rico and create a new avenue in which marine conservation can be taught. This meaningful work increases access to education and was made possible with the support of the Julia R. Brown Education and Research Fund.
Blog content and images provided by Savannah Franklin Rey – thank you!