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Twenty-six species, recognized as threatened or endangered, reside or migrate within the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary—often called the “Serengeti of the Sea.” This stunning biodiversity raises an important question: what does it truly mean to be a sanctuary?
Is it simply a place of refuge? A nature reserve? A sacred space? I lean into the simple, powerful idea that a sanctuary is a place of safety for all.
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This belief comes alive each time I look out my window. Today, I see hundreds of pelicans and seagulls feasting on anchovies, harbor seals peeking above the surface. Throughout the final weeks of our fall programs, our students were treated to near-daily humpback whale sightings. These were mostly small juveniles, drawn in by the abundance of bait fish, but also, delightfully, playing. And as I turn toward the kelp forests, I spot otters rafted together, resting after a long morning of foraging.
The connection between these moments is clear: The sanctuary provides not just protection—it offers a chance to flourish.
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But the concept of sanctuary extends beyond the water’s edge. It has inspired our organization to reflect on what it means to be a sanctuary for people, especially for the students who leave the familiarity of their classrooms to study in the field. In this way, we have become a sanctuary for learning. A sanctuary for exploration.
Just as the sanctuary protects the wildlife within its borders, we strive to create a space that nurtures and supports the youth who come here to learn. Safety, belonging, and discovery are at the heart of what we do.
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This idea goes hand in hand with our efforts to remove access barriers to the Monterey Bay and to cultivate a positive relationship between young people and the ocean. One of our guiding principles is to “create life-long impactful memories and spark a new generation of ocean-minded stewards.” It’s a responsibility the OSO Board and Staff take seriously.
We remain deeply committed to ensuring that the OSO program continues to be a sanctuary for every learner, every visitor, and every curious mind. We believe that creating a safe, inclusive, and secure environment is not only essential to the success of our programs, but vital to the long-term conservation of our oceans.
In Community,
Tracey Weiss
Executive Director
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TRIP APPLICATIONS
OPEN MAY 1ST!
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We will be accepting applications for trips for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 starting May 1st, 2025.
Find out more about our trip selection process here!
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PLANET STEWARDS WORKSHOP
JULY 22-24, 2025
O’Neill Sea Odyssey in collaboration with the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary will host a NOAA Planet Stewards educator workshop in Santa Cruz, California July 22-24, 2025.
What: A 3-day professional development workshop focused on local environmental issues and solutions. Teachers will build an understanding of how environmental variables like weather, water and climate impact humans and natural landscapes along with human-induced changes to the environment. Take home project-based learning lessons for the classroom and ideas for hands-on stewardship experiences for students and communities.
Who: Educators from schools in Santa Cruz County. Educators from traditionally under-resourced districts are encouraged to apply. Participants will receive a stipend upon completing the workshop.
Event Registration details coming soon!
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STUDENT ACTION PROJECT HIGHLIGHT
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Communicating conservation and care of our natural resources through art is impactful and accessible. Students at Bradley Elementary put the “A” in STEAM when they used discarded plastic to create mosaic works of art. Read about it here!
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INSTRUCTOR HIGHLIGHT
ITZEL CHAVARRIA
Itzel began working with us in the Fall of 2024! She was born and raised in Watsonville and spent most of her childhood exploring local habitats. She recently graduated from San Francisco State University with a BS in Biology: Concentration in Marine Biology/Limnology.
At OSO she teaches Marine Biology and Ecology. Teaching science to her community is Itzel’s greatest passion. We asked her about her work at OSO and her tips on conservation. Check it out!
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Join us on May 10th at 9am at the beginning of the Walton Lighthouse path
We are hosting a cleanup site and will be handing out supplies for a trash pick-up on Seabright Beach.
There are many other sites around the county with cleanups. If you can’t make it to Seabright beach consider another site!
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