REEF Ocean Explorers Education Programs bring oceans to life through online and in-person learning. Our programs include hands-on lessons and activities to teach participants of all ages and backgrounds about ocean life and habitats, while empowering people to make a difference. We tailor programs to each group's unique needs and interests, creating a memorable learning experience and helping people to build connections to the ocean. 2023 was an amazing and impactful year for REEF Ocean Explorers Education programs, and we're proud to share some stats and highlights from the past year.
There are just a few weeks remaining in the year, and if you have any REEF surveys that you haven't yet entered, it's an excellent time to dust them off and submit them into our online database. As a REEF surveyor, each survey you conduct can help make a difference in the health of the ocean, but these data must be submitted to the REEF database to make an impact! The marine life information collected by REEF volunteers is used by scientists and researchers protect our oceans.
We're excited to introduce our 2023 REEF Educator in the Field Fellowship recipients! This past summer, three educators joined us on REEF Field Survey Trips in Roatan and the Red Sea, where they participated in ocean citizen science and data collection, and explored how to incorporate these programs into their classroom. The 2023 REEF Educators in the Field are:
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.
This month we highlight Pieter Booth, a REEF member from Washington. He is an active surveyor in the Pacific Coast of the US and Canada (PAC) region, where he has conducted more than 120 surveys. He enjoys exploring the nearby waters of the Puget Sound. We're thankful that Pieter is a part of REEF, and look forward to seeing more surveys from him in the future!
Our online programs are free and open to all! Check out what's coming up, and view the entire schedule of Fishinars and other online programs here.
This month, we say a fond farewell to David Ehlert, who served as REEF Campus Coordinator for the past four years. Originally from Kentucky, he first came to REEF as a Marine Conservation Intern during the summer of 2018. After graduating from the University of Kentucky with a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Science, David returned to REEF for the summer of 2019 as the Education and Outreach Program Lead Intern. We were thrilled to have him officially join the staff in November 2019.
When diverse experiences are brought together and amplified, they become a movement, a force for change. You are invited to be a part of this movement and join the conversation, as we share and learn together about the importance of listening, understanding, and amplifying the voices and experiences of equity-deserving groups in marine conservation.
This holiday season, give the gift of healthy oceans by supporting REEF! Thanks to the support and dedication of members like you, REEF is using science, education, and research to protect the oceans, and inspiring people to take action for ocean conservation. We're so grateful to everyone who has made a donation this season. If you have not yet made a gift, please consider donating to REEF today. Your year-end contribution will help us keep our amazing momentum for marine conservation in the new year.
We're unwrapping a special treat for our December Fish of the Month: presenting the Ribbon Eel, Rhinomuraena quaesita!