3 answers
August
Student
Alexandria, Virginia
2
Questions
Asked
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What are some hands on kid friendly marine biology resources and research ?
I started doing computer research and research on paper but I wanted to get hands on experience.
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3 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
647
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi August,
It's great that you are interested in Marine Biology and already taking the first steps.
Have a look at the high-school programs at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and also at NOAA:
https://www.vims.edu/engage/high_school/
https://www.vims.edu/engage/high_school/summer_aide/
https://www.noaa.gov/education/opportunities/students
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's great that you are interested in Marine Biology and already taking the first steps.
Have a look at the high-school programs at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science and also at NOAA:
https://www.vims.edu/engage/high_school/
https://www.vims.edu/engage/high_school/summer_aide/
https://www.noaa.gov/education/opportunities/students
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Thanks but I'm not a high school student but there are some summer camps for marine biology.
August
Hi August, keep the high-school events in mind for when you are old enough for those.
Some summer camps in Virginia: https://virginiaaquarium.com/summer-camps, http://www.cbfieldstation.org/camps.html, some educational ideas: https://seagrant.whoi.edu/k-12/lesson-landing/games-2.
Some Science Fairs to check out: Virginia Junior Academy of Science: https://vjas.org/index.html, Alexandria City Public Schools Science and Engineering Fair: https://www.acps.k12.va.us/academics/science-fair, Fairfax County Public Schools Regional Science and Engineering Fair: https://www.fcps.edu/sciencefair.
Check out if your school participates in science fairs.
All the best!
KP
Karin P.
Charlotte Geiger
Public Health Science Student at the University of Maryland
151
Answers
Sykesville, Maryland
Updated
Charlotte’s Answer
Hi August,
Getting hands-on experience in marine biology is a fantastic way to deepen your understanding beyond just computer and paper research! Here are some engaging and kid-friendly ways to explore marine biology through hands-on activities and resources:
1. Local Aquarium or Marine Science Center:
Volunteer Opportunities: Many aquariums offer volunteer programs for teens where you can help with animal care or educational activities.
Interactive Exhibits: Visit touch tanks and hands-on exhibits to learn about marine life.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours: Some places offer programs where you can see how marine biologists care for animals.
2. Marine Biology Camps and Programs:
Ocean Explorers Camps: Look for summer camps or workshops focused on marine science, often offered by universities or marine conservation groups.
High School Marine Science Institutes: Some universities host week-long programs where students conduct field research and lab experiments.
Sea Turtle Conservation Programs: Check for local conservation efforts that involve tagging or monitoring sea turtle nests.
3. DIY Marine Biology Experiments:
Water Quality Testing: Collect samples from local ponds or beaches and test pH, salinity, and temperature.
Microplastics Survey: Use sieves to collect sand samples and analyze them for tiny plastic fragments.
DIY Plankton Net: Create a simple net using a fine mesh and collect samples from a local water source to examine under a microscope.
4. Citizen Science Projects:
iNaturalist Marine Projects: Document marine species during beach visits and upload data to help track biodiversity.
Marine Debris Tracker: Participate in cleanups and log trash data to help scientists understand pollution patterns.
Great Backyard Bird Count (Coastal Edition): Track and identify coastal bird species in your area.
5. Join Marine Conservation Clubs or Societies:
Junior Marine Biology Clubs: Many coastal areas have youth groups that focus on marine conservation projects.
Local Dive Clubs: If you’re near the coast, join a snorkeling or diving group to observe marine life firsthand.
Aquarium Clubs: Join local hobbyist groups that focus on saltwater aquariums and learn about marine ecosystems through captive care.
6. Online Hands-On Resources:
Marine Bio Kids (MarineBio.org): Offers fun activities, DIY experiments, and educational videos.
Smithsonian Ocean Portal: Interactive lessons and virtual marine explorations.
ZOOM (PBS Kids): Has hands-on experiments related to marine science for younger audiences.
7. Field Trips and Nature Walks:
Tide Pool Exploration: Visit rocky shorelines to observe tide pool ecosystems.
Beach Cleanups: Participate in coastal cleanups while learning about marine debris and its impact on wildlife.
Seine Netting: Use a seine net in shallow waters to collect and identify small fish and invertebrates.
Getting hands-on experience in marine biology is a fantastic way to deepen your understanding beyond just computer and paper research! Here are some engaging and kid-friendly ways to explore marine biology through hands-on activities and resources:
1. Local Aquarium or Marine Science Center:
Volunteer Opportunities: Many aquariums offer volunteer programs for teens where you can help with animal care or educational activities.
Interactive Exhibits: Visit touch tanks and hands-on exhibits to learn about marine life.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours: Some places offer programs where you can see how marine biologists care for animals.
2. Marine Biology Camps and Programs:
Ocean Explorers Camps: Look for summer camps or workshops focused on marine science, often offered by universities or marine conservation groups.
High School Marine Science Institutes: Some universities host week-long programs where students conduct field research and lab experiments.
Sea Turtle Conservation Programs: Check for local conservation efforts that involve tagging or monitoring sea turtle nests.
3. DIY Marine Biology Experiments:
Water Quality Testing: Collect samples from local ponds or beaches and test pH, salinity, and temperature.
Microplastics Survey: Use sieves to collect sand samples and analyze them for tiny plastic fragments.
DIY Plankton Net: Create a simple net using a fine mesh and collect samples from a local water source to examine under a microscope.
4. Citizen Science Projects:
iNaturalist Marine Projects: Document marine species during beach visits and upload data to help track biodiversity.
Marine Debris Tracker: Participate in cleanups and log trash data to help scientists understand pollution patterns.
Great Backyard Bird Count (Coastal Edition): Track and identify coastal bird species in your area.
5. Join Marine Conservation Clubs or Societies:
Junior Marine Biology Clubs: Many coastal areas have youth groups that focus on marine conservation projects.
Local Dive Clubs: If you’re near the coast, join a snorkeling or diving group to observe marine life firsthand.
Aquarium Clubs: Join local hobbyist groups that focus on saltwater aquariums and learn about marine ecosystems through captive care.
6. Online Hands-On Resources:
Marine Bio Kids (MarineBio.org): Offers fun activities, DIY experiments, and educational videos.
Smithsonian Ocean Portal: Interactive lessons and virtual marine explorations.
ZOOM (PBS Kids): Has hands-on experiments related to marine science for younger audiences.
7. Field Trips and Nature Walks:
Tide Pool Exploration: Visit rocky shorelines to observe tide pool ecosystems.
Beach Cleanups: Participate in coastal cleanups while learning about marine debris and its impact on wildlife.
Seine Netting: Use a seine net in shallow waters to collect and identify small fish and invertebrates.
Destiny Hankerson
Athlete, Artist, and Writer
18
Answers
East Orange, New Jersey
Updated
Destiny’s Answer
This is a great question, August. I'm studying Health Science myself, so perhaps I can help you find some biology resources. (I'm at the biology section of my course. )
If you're looking for kid friendly biology resources, and you want a hands-on experience, there are plenty of simple biology experiments you can do at home. Although these experiments aren't necessarily connected to marine biology, they still give you a good foundation in how biology works as a science. I found this website that goes into detail about some of the experiments you can try:
https://woojr.com/6-easy-biology-science-experiments-kids/
If you have a good science teacher, they might also be willing to help you with your biology experiments! I noticed you mentioned in a comment that there are marine biology summer camps in your neighborhood, so you should definitely explore those.
Another good resource for marine biology for kids is the American Museum of Natural History: https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/marine-biology
On the museum's website, you'll find all kinds of great activities related to marine biology, including hands-on experiences, so definitely explore it!
I hope these resources are helpful for you! You're already taking great steps by doing computer research and research on paper. If you keep this up, you'll be a great marine biologist or research scientist!
If you're looking for kid friendly biology resources, and you want a hands-on experience, there are plenty of simple biology experiments you can do at home. Although these experiments aren't necessarily connected to marine biology, they still give you a good foundation in how biology works as a science. I found this website that goes into detail about some of the experiments you can try:
https://woojr.com/6-easy-biology-science-experiments-kids/
If you have a good science teacher, they might also be willing to help you with your biology experiments! I noticed you mentioned in a comment that there are marine biology summer camps in your neighborhood, so you should definitely explore those.
Another good resource for marine biology for kids is the American Museum of Natural History: https://www.amnh.org/explore/ology/marine-biology
On the museum's website, you'll find all kinds of great activities related to marine biology, including hands-on experiences, so definitely explore it!
I hope these resources are helpful for you! You're already taking great steps by doing computer research and research on paper. If you keep this up, you'll be a great marine biologist or research scientist!