WAVES: Field Trips and Educational Kits
WAVES is a community engagement and educational outreach program designed to improve access to marine science and conservation for K-12 students. This program has evolved from Ocean Kids, which was originally founded in 2008 by Dr. Jill Richardson for elementary school students. The mission of WAVES is to provide early access to ocean STEM education and experience on a college campus for underrepresented minorities; broaden participation in marine science and affirm STEM identities; promote inclusion in ocean conservation through culturally relevant curricula and activities; and engage Rosenstiel volunteers in civic engagement.
The WAVES program consists of immersive field trips, school visits, and events where graduate and undergraduate students, faculty, and staff from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science share their passion for science and ocean conservation with K-12 students. At WAVES field trips, students visit various educational stations with locally relevant themes to improve ocean literacy through hands-on activities.
Additionally, we have developed WAVES educational kits that contain detailed lesson plans, presentation slides, and laboratory supplies to complete 10+ hands-on active learning activities in a classroom. These kits have been distributed to local K-12 schools in Miami-Dade so teachers can implement cutting-edge marine science and conservation curricula in their classrooms at no cost.
