Thanks to a sizable grant from The St. Joe Community Foundation, a Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation program designed to assist local teachers will soon be expanding into Walton County. The St. Joe Community Foundation will be presenting a check for $96,175 at the Walton County School District meeting on Tuesday, October 18, at 5 p.m. in the South Walton High School Media Center.
The grant will pay for Walton County teachers to receive interactive hands-on training in the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) curriculum. The teachers, in turn, will take what they’ve learned back to their classrooms, along with scientific equipment and educational materials provided by the Foundation, and guide their students through lessons related to marine ecosystems, conservation and art.
The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation curriculum is built on the videos, articles and papers from Dr. Harvey that cover decades of scientific research. The Foundation works to make marine and environmental science more engaging through virtual field trips that include diving with sharks, witnessing sea turtles nesting, and examining the impacts of pollution, climate change and overfishing on the marine world.
“At the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, we are committed to education and that’s why we were so excited to roll out our curriculum throughout Florida and beyond,” said Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s Co-Chair Jessica Harvey. “It is critically important to inform, educate and engage young students on the importance of preserving our oceans and marine life. Through the educational initiatives we’ve launched, students learn about the world’s environment and wildlife. They come away with a better understanding of how they can help us in preserving our ecosystems for future generations.”
Already, more than 7,500 students in Bay County have benefitted from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation lessons, thanks to a $99,500 grant from The St. Joe Community Foundation in 2021. This year’s new grants will allow the program to launch in Walton County and continue to grow in Bay County.
“The St. Joe Community Foundation aims to support local nonprofits that work to make life better in their communities by focusing on education, environmental stewardship, cultural arts, and building healthy communities,” said The St. Joe Community Foundation’s Executive Director April Wilkes. “The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation touches on many of our key pillars, and we’re proud to be a part of the good work they do here in Northwest Florida.”
Local nonprofits can apply for grants through The St. Joe Community Foundation. Learn more at www.JoeFoundation.com.
Teachers in Walton and Bay County School Districts interested in participating in a Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation professional training should be on the lookout for notifications from their district for upcoming professional learning opportunities. The GHOF will also be offering monthly virtual content overview sessions that teachers can sign up for through the GHOF.org website. If you can help support the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s ongoing efforts, please visit the GHOF.org website and donate to their education program or sign up as a volunteer.
The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation (GHOF) conducts scientific research and hosts educational programs to conserve the marine environment. The GHOF also funds affiliated researchers working to better understand our ocean ecosystem and educators helping to foster the next era of marine conservationists. The GHOF will help ensure that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a properly balanced ocean ecosystem. www.GHOF.org.
