CA-8 SEAMAGAZINE.COM MAY 2017
up from the Ocean Institute and put
local fourth-graders, who are studying
California history, aboard for the night.
They read an abridged version of Richard
Henry Dana’s book “Two Years Before
the Mast” and spend 18 hours aboard
ship, living the life of an 1830s sailor. We
also host a Marine Science Program for
fourth- through eighth-graders, where
youth actually go out on the water aboard
the fishing boat Stardust. They collect local
marine life in an otter trap, study seals, sea
lions and dolphins in their natural habitat,
and look at zooplankton under a micro-
scope. We also host school group tours,
go out to Science Fairs to teach charting
and navigation, and now host quarterly
Family Nights, featuring maritime related
hands-on activities for youth ages five to 10.Please tell us more about the programs
you offer aboard Stardust and the tall ship
Spirit of Dana Point.For both of these programs we work
directly with Santa Barbara County
schools, and for the Marine Science
Program we have after-school groups
participate. Through the generosity of our
donors and local foundations, we generally
offer these programs free of charge to
Title I (low-income) schools and groups.
Teachers love these programs, and some
base their whole year around the Overnight
Program. They say it teaches their students
to work together, to speak and listen better,
and to participate in the class more; plus,
it improves their self-esteem. Studies
show that hands-on, interactive programs
such as these are especially beneficial for
students with language and learning chal-
lenges. Our hope is that these programs
help students put themselves into any
history book they read into the future, and
instills in them an appreciation and love
for our oceans, and especially for our local
Santa Barbara Channel.GET TO KNOW
LLOYD TABER-
MARINA DEL
REY LIBRARY
THERE IS A VERY SPECIAL public
library with an entire wing dedicated to
boaters, in the heart of Marina del Rey.
It is situated adjacent to Admiralty Way
and overlooks Basin F of the marina.
Curl up with a favorite book behind the
“sail window” in the Nautical Wing of the
library, which overlooks the marina. THE LIBRARY WAS originally built in
1976 and the nautical wing was added in
1999. THERE IS AN extensive collection of
how-to boating VHS tapes and DVDs. IT IS CLOSED on Sunday.
THE LIBRARY HAS subscriptions to
33 boating periodicals (including Sea!) CHECK OUT THE extensive chart
collection and the maritime collection of
5,135 circulating and reference books. FREE WI-FI IS available, so it’s a great
place to check email while you’re docked.The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum is right by the waterfront and has something interesting for every
age group.