NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION

Education & outreach:the national marine sanctuary foundation connects people to their sanctuaries and funds public education, outreach, conservation, and maritime heritage projects that encourage people to become engaged stewards of america's ocean, coasts, and great lakes waters. We encourage local stewardship and national engagement including promoting sustainable recreation and tourism in national marine sanctuaries; establishing lifelong connections to national marine sanctuaries and monuments through education and public awareness.the foundation supports staff, operations, exhibits, and/or programs at ten visitor center sites in each of the three regions of the national marine sanctuary system, including launching a new visitor center, pacific islands ocean exploration center, designed to connect visitors in the high-tourism area of downtown honolulu to national marine sanctuaries in the pacific islands. New exhibits were developed for the new gray's reef ocean discovery center, to attract the attention of the millions of visitors to savannah, georgia every year to learn more about the resources of the offshore gray's reef national marine sanctuary and their value to the communities of the coastal empire. Annually on october 23, the foundation hosts national marine sanctuary day, a national day of celebration of our treasured waters in the ocean and great lakes that demonstrate how america's shared maritime heritage and coastal communities are deeply woven together in our national character. Nmsd 2024 featured stories of youth leadership and activism for our ocean and great lakes, expanding public access to sanctuaries for tourism and recreation, and heritage and culture inspired by these special places.the national marine sanctuary foundation funds programs that reach more than 1,000 k-12 educators annually; and connect sites in the national marine sanctuary system to sustainable fisheries/seafood and endangered/protected species. We provide students, educators, and lifelong learners with opportunities to explore and discover connections to the natural world, no matter where they live. Our funding promotes in- and out-of-classroom learning experiences, teacher trainings, and educational exhibits at sanctuary visitor centers, zoos, and aquariums across the country. As part of reinvigorating sustainable recreation initiatives in the national marine sanctuary system, the foundation expanded a public-private partnership to support family fishing clinics to five national marine sanctuaries in 2024, with 168 participants from 65 families.the foundation also supports projects that work closely with indigenous communities to advance the understanding and use of indigenous knowledge, encourage better public understanding of the role of native people in our history with our waters, and celebrate the cultures of indigenous communities. In 2024, the foundation helped facilitate the second cross-pacific indigenous exchange, held in monterey and seaside, california. This exchange included 36 indigenous leaders and representatives from alaska, hawai'i, american samoa, saipan, california, washington, and maryland. We also helped support indigenous films, exhibits, and outreach events throughout the pacific. The foundation made 12 grants totaling more than $84,000 to organizations throughout the u.s. Helping to clear marine debris from our nation's waters, and provide prevention education. As well as 15 additional grants totaling nearly $150,000 designed to support engagement with ocean exploration and science. The foundation funds networks of educators to share ideas, best practices, and activities that engage students in the classroom. The foundation looks outside of the classroom as well to immersive, hands-on education activities, in sanctuaries and their watersheds. For example, the project rove program helped train teachers across the u.s. On the skills needed to bring underwater robotics to their classroom, including a teacher cohort participating in synchronous and asynchronous online courses, culminating in an in-person workshop in olympic coast national marine sanctuary. The foundation supports noaa ocean guardian schools in 14 states and 3 territories, helping schools protect local watersheds, the ocean, and special areas like sanctuaries through school- and community-based conservation projects. Since inception, students have collected over 180,000 pounds of trash, distributed 44,000 reusable items, and avoided more than a million single-use bottles. Parents report a 66% increase in their children's environmental advocacy. Nearly 90,000 students, over half from title i schools, and about 3,600 educators have participated. In 2024, 33 schools received more than $115,000 in grants.

Capitol hill ocean week (chow), the nation's premier ocean policy conference focused on the theme of leadership. Chow elevated federal, state and local leaders, tribal and indigenous elders, business executives, world renown scientists, conservation luminaries, and youth activists. Early-career and youth advocates from across the country came out in force to washington, dc, to champion ocean protection. They took center stage to share their initiatives and knowledge, advocate to elected officials, and inspire us all to be bold. Each year, chow strengthens our ability to lead the stewardship of our ocean and great lakes by making new connections and forging new possibilities, uplifting new voices, and honoring our champions. During chow, the foundation honored leaders during the ocean awards among their peers, members of the administration, and chow attendees.