NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries announces the recipients for its Annual Sea to Shining Sea: Excellence in Interpretation and Education Award

December 2014

For the second year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of National Marine Sanctuaries recognizes outstanding achievement in the fields of interpretation and environmental education by presenting the Sea to Shining Sea Award: Excellence in Interpretation and Education. This annual award is given to employees, contractors and volunteers who are judged by their demonstrated success in advancing ocean and climate literacy and conservation through national marine sanctuaries, as well as through their innovation and creative solutions in successfully enhancing the public's understanding of the National Marine Sanctuary System and the resources it protects.

The recipient for this year's award is:

Ocean Guardian: Naomi Pollack and Seaberry Nachbar. The Ocean Guardian team is recognized for their exemplary service in expanding the Ocean Guardian School program to five additional states in addition to California which supports hands-on ocean stewardship projects in K–12 public, private, and charter schools; for expanding Zero Waste Week which keeps single-use plastic out of landfills and our environment; and for having a significant impact on student behaviors, including removing invasive plants, collecting over 15,000 pounds of trash, and creating ocean guardians.

On Thursday, November 19, 2014, the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries presented the annual Sea to Shining Sea: Excellence in Interpretation and Education award at the National Association for Interpretation's Annual Workshop held in Denver, Colorado.

At our school, every day is considered a “beach clean-up day” with so many storm drains on the playground that lead directly to the creek, then to the bay and finally to the ocean. Students are learning about the importance of keeping our school grounds trash free, how it’s more than aesthetic - It’s a matter of ocean conservation.

A whale tail award sculpture and certificates were presented to Naomi Pollack and Seaberry Nachbar. Congratulations to our award winners for their excellence and dedication in enhancing ocean and climate literacy in national marine sanctuaries and enhancing the public's understanding of the National Marine Sanctuary System and the resources it protects through the Ocean Guardian Program.

When the bag ordinance passed students felt that they had really contributed to our local community’s understanding of both the ordinance and the reasons why it is so important, especially to ocean health. The students were so empowered as they saw that their efforts really can bring about change in our community.

NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries is proud to be a part of this prestigious award ceremony at the National Association for Interpretation's Annual Workshop. The Office of National Marine Sanctuaries' "Sea to Shining Sea Award" was presented in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service's "Gifford Pinchot Award," the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's "Sense of Wonder Award," the National Park Service's "Freeman Tilden Award," the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' "Hiram M. Chittenden Award," and NAI's "Master Front-Line Interpreter" and "Master Interpretive Manager" Awards. Some of these awards have been given for more than 30 years. It is fitting for sanctuaries to be at the forefront for interpretation and education alongside some of the country's best interpreters.

Students removed over 10,000 square feet of invasive ivy growing along the creekside. They also studied the parameters necessary to support life in the creek and monitored water quality and insects. One day towards the end of the year, we used our new underwater camera and captured amazing video of steelhead trout in the creek. The kids broke out into a loud cheer when we saw the fish swimming!! They were so proud to have had a big role in making the stream healthy again.