3 Learning Adventures That Make the Ocean Your Classroom
Do you dream of days spent by the ocean, listening to waves crash and searching for treasures washed up along the shore? Does the fresh sea breeze invigorate you? Do the myriad animals that call the ocean home fascinate you? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, a learning adventure by the ocean is just the thing for you!
These three educational experiences take place in three drastically different places, but they all have the intrigue that the ocean offers in common. Check out our top three picks for adventures centered around the world’s oceans.
1. Baja California
This peninsula in Mexico offers a variety of opportunities for learning about the ocean. For example, did you know that gray whales migrate 5,000 miles to Baja to mate and have their calves? Witness this amazing migration firsthand, or visit the island of Coronado in the Sea of Cortés, part of a UNESCO-designated Biosphere Reserve and home to herons, pelicans and other birds. The best part — throughout your adventure in Baja, you’ll be surrounded by crisp ocean views.
2. The Arctic
The Arctic offers a unique perspective on the world’s oceans — instead of warm beaches and seagulls, expect polar bears, fjords, beluga whales and ruggedly beautiful landscapes. Smaller Zodiac vessels can often get you up-close to these symbols of the Arctic, including potential humpback whale sightings. Wait with baited breath as you search for the Northern Lights, and take the opportunity to talk with those who make the wild environments of the Arctic their home.
3. Hawaii
Native Hawaiians have long had strong ties with the ocean, and today those ties continue through surfing, fishing and more. These activities are great ways to learn more about the ocean surrounding the Hawaiian Islands — through snorkeling along coral reefs or learning through service on the USS Missouri, you can gain a better understanding of the ecosystems and human history that are intertwined with the ocean in Hawaii.
At Road Scholar, we recognize that oceans are part of our greater global classroom, and it is our responsibility to help to protect and preserve that classroom. Part of our commitment involves offsetting plastic usage and striving to keep single-use plastic out of the world’s waterways. We have partnered with TONTOTON and funded the reclamation of 15 metric tons of plastic waste in Vietnam. Through TONTOTON’s projects, post-consumer, non-recyclable, ocean-bound plastic waste is recovered and processed into fuels and raw materials that replace coal at a local manufacturing plant. You can learn more about our commitment to sustainability on our website.
Discover more learning adventures on the world’s oceans on our website.