To keep the summer momentum going, Earth Team ventured back to the beach for our next camping trip; this time heading south to Monterey Bay! Eleven interns, three coordinators, and one very good pup Zodi gathered early Saturday morning to start our journey.
Stop One: Monterey Bay Aquarium
Our first stop was the Monterey Bay Aquarium! The aquarium sits at the end of Cannery Row on what was once the Hovden Cannery; now, the aquarium is a leader in ocean conservation and is home to over 80,000 organisms. Coordinator Jamie has spent quite a bit of time at the aquarium, and started our tour at the most popular exhibit: Sea Otters! The two otters on exhibit were Ivy and the newest otter at the aquarium, Opal. Opal was originally rescued as a pup, but was deemed non-releasable by Fish and Wildlife, so she grew up a bit behind the scenes before joining the rest of the exhibit otters.
After the otters, we checked out the ocean’s edge. This side of the aquarium is filled with local species like leopard sharks, rockfish, and the grumpy giant sea bass. Interns even got their hands wet at the touch pools, visiting gumboot chitons and sea stars.
From there, we made our way to the most mesmerizing exhibit of all: the jellies gallery. Interns were mesmerized by the drifting tentacles of the jellies. As they made their way through the exhibit, they learned about the life cycle of moon jellies and how the aquarium cultivates them.
Thanks to naturalist Tara Mann, interns were able to experience this firsthand during a special behind-the-scenes tour of the jelly lab, where the jellies are raised from tiny polyps to the graceful adults on display. Behind the scenes, we saw more moon jellies, purple stripe jellies, and sea gooseberries, all growing up before making their way into the exhibits. Tara taught us how the aquarium houses jellies using special kreisel tanks that gently circulate water to mimic their natural habitat. To top it off, interns even got to gently touch a moon jelly: a truly unforgettable experience!
Stop Two: Setting Up Camp
After a full day at the aquarium, we made our way to Veterans Memorial Park to set up camp. For many interns, it was their first time camping or even sleeping in a tent. However, with teamwork and enthusiasm, the group pitched tents and got dinner cooking. On the menu: pasta and meatballs made by three excellent student chefs on the camp stove. We ended the night in classic Earth Team fashion: sharing stories, roasting s’mores, and enjoying a beach bonfire under the stars. Intern Karla refle, “My experience throughout this trip was exciting and new. I’ve never gone camping without my family and this time I got to do it with my friends and new people! I love the outdoors and this trip helped me connect with nature and people.”
Stop Three: Tidepools
After a fun night in the tents, we woke up excited to continue our ocean adventure. Students quickly broke down their tents, cleaned up camp, ate a quick breakfast, and prepped sandwiches for lunch. They were eager to get to our final stop on the trip: Point Piños tidepools. Located right at the southern point of Monterey Bay, these tidepools showcase the diversity of life the central coast of California provides. We met up with naturalists Skylar, Hunter, and Fisher the pup to learn about safely exploring the rocky coastline. Bundled up against the cool morning breeze, interns explored the rocky shore, discovering sea stars, sea slugs, and even spotting sea otters playing in the waves just offshore.
Overall, the trip was a huge success. Student Lily summarized it well, “This whole trip was amazing and extremely memorable. The aquarium, and the bon fire at night were key highlights.”
We are deeply grateful to the many people and organizations who made this trip possible. Special thanks to Tara Mann and the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Free to Learn program, Skylar and Hunter for guiding our tidepool adventure, and our funders, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) and the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail Grant, for supporting youth environmental education and unforgettable outdoor experiences like this one.
Bonus Zodi Pictures!
We were joined on this trip by the amazing service pup Zodi. He was a huge asset to our group by helping students bond with each other and be more comfortable sleeping outdoors. Not normally a water dog, Zodi had a blast exploring the aquarium, running through tidepools, and getting all the belly rubs from his new friends!
