Algalita Marine Research and Education

Help us create a hands-on, empowering experience for the community by joining our LB Fix-It Clinics as a volunteer Fix-It Coach. You’ll work alongside participants as they take apart broken items, sharing your skills and guiding them through troubleshooting and repairs. You don’t need to be an expert—just bring your love for fixing things and sharing knowledge! In 2024, our coalition hosted three clinics citywide, preventing nearly 2,000 pounds of waste from reaching the landfill and giving cherished items a second chance. Each clinic brought in even more eager participants, proving just how much Long Beach values repair. To keep up with the growing demand, we’re seeking passionate fixers to join our volunteer team. As a Fix-It Coach, you’ll play a vital role in building a culture of repair and sustainability in our community. Interested in joining? Fill out the interest form below to get started, and let’s keep Long Beach fixing! https://lnkd.in/gZiWC_2K

To celebrate our 30th anniversary, we've brought back the first-ever Algalita crew t-shirt originally made in 1996 for ORV Alguita's maiden voyage. Reprinted on 100% US-cotton grown natural tees, this one-of-a-kind item is the only one that features Algalita's original logo. Every purchase supports our educational experiences that empower students and educators to understand the full-scope of plastic pollution’s impact on people and the planet including field trips, engaging classroom toolkits, monthly virtual educator workshops, among much more. Celebrate Algalita's 30 years of investigation, education, and impact with us! Click the link below today to purchase a t-shirt today. https://lnkd.in/d--JMAew #algalita #30years #plasticpollution #keepourseaplasticfree

Do you know a teacher who is leading the way on environmental education? Whether you are a student, parent, or an educator, you can nominate a teacher to receive a Wayfinder Society Educator Mini-Grant. Educators, you can also nominate yourselves too! Nominate any educator who: - works at a public school, charter school, college, university, or homeschool - incorporates plastics and environmental education into their lessons in an engaging way - is helping students become better environmental stewards in and outside of class - would benefit from funding for classroom supplies, fieldtrips, or zero-waste classroom projects Every other month, we award one inspiring environmental educator with a mini-grant ranging from $100-$750 of unrestricted funding. This offering is available to educators internationally. Learn more and send in your nominations here: https://lnkd.in/gH3BbsGG #educatorminigrant #funding #environmentaleducation

Congratulations, Dr. Win Cowger!

We’re excited to be awarded a STEM Action Grant from Society for Science! ?? The STEM Action Grant program aims to develop an inclusive STEM talent pool by strengthening and improving outcomes for underrepresented groups in STEM education and careers. Funds from this grant will help us continue our work making STEM accessible to ALL ? Algalita is proud to be among these organizations who were awarded this year: https://lnkd.in/gb6ZRCjU #algalita #societyforscience #science #STEM

Congratulations to our September Educator Mini-Grant awardee: Mrs. Katy Smith! Mrs. Smith serves as a Public Service Faculty with the University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant in Brunswick, GA. She is a passionate educator who engages Georgia’s teachers, students, visitors and community members through educational programming, curricula and activities related to coastal ecology, water resource protection and marine debris prevention. Learn more about Mrs. Smith’s impact in her educator spotlight linked here: https://lnkd.in/gVeP5SYi Don’t forget that we are now accepting nominations for our November Educator Mini-Grant, so be sure and get your nominations in by October 31st. #wayfindersociety #educatorminigrant #marinedebris #georgia

Applications for the 2024-25 Wayfinder Society Educator Ally program are now open! Our adaptation of an ambasador program, the Wayfinder Society Educator Ally Program is a leadership initiative aimed at empowering educators to join the Algalita team by serving as advocates, advisors, and champions of all that Wayfinder Society has to offer. In return, the program provides participants with specialized training, access to exclusive in-person events, and opportunities to collaborate directly with a national network of like-minded educators. We are looking for educators who are aligned with our core values of experiential learning, investigation, imagination, and balance. These educators actively incorporate Algalita’s plastics education into their classrooms. To be eligible, you need to be a U.S.-based environmental educator working with a school or organization, or a college student in the U.S. studying to become one. Apply by Monday, October 7 for your application to be considered in time to join our kickoff Zoom call on Wednesday, October 23. Click the link below to learn more about this new and exciting program! https://lnkd.in/gPB2s443 #wayfindersociety #educator #allies #ambassador #plasticpollution

Let’s kick off BYO Month in Long Beach together! All October long, we will be celebrating LB Reuses businesses who are championing reuse across the city. This kick off party will be an opportunity for those participating businesses to network together, share their mission, and connect with our broader community. Community members can also join in on the fun and pick up their BYO Month stamp card and collect their first stamp of the month! Here's what's in store: ? Free strolls on the waterbikes in the bay thanks to LB Water Bikes ? See an up close look into our sister nonprofit’s, MIPPR, accredited microplastics lab (the only nonprofit lab in the world certified to test for microplastics in drinking water!) ? Hang out at next door at Malainey’s Bar and Grill for fun Long Beach trivia, vibey music, refreshing drinks, and delicious food! ? Enjoy 10% off at our reuse store, BYO Long Beach ? Network with local businesses and organizations dedicated to reuse in the community Please RSVP below to help us plan ahead! Please note that due to limited spots, you must reserve a free spot for lab tours and waterbikes. https://lnkd.in/dshweHrj #lbreuses #longbeach #byo #reuse #byomonth

Did you recently receive one of Algalita’s Synthetic Sand Investigation Kits, or are you thinking of requesting one? Are you looking for resources for your middle school Synthetic Materials Unit? In this Resource Spotlight, we’ll walk you through the Synthetic Sand investigation activity, discuss how to incorporate it into your Synthetic Materials unit, and provide additional information about plastic pollution and how it is a prime example of how human-made materials impact our planet. Join us for today's virtual professional development for educators today (Tuesday, Sept 17) from 4-5pm PT. Register in the link below! https://lnkd.in/g_xEr-XM #algalita #wayfindersociety #professionaldevelopment #educators #plasticpollution

HEY, LONG BEACH COMMUNITY! We are in need of docents to help us facilitate our newly developed field trips with 5th graders to college students learning about plastic pollution in the context of Southern California coastal zone! Fieldtrips will include visual biological surveys, trash collection and audits, sand sampling and analysis, plankton tows, microscope analysis of microplastics and plankton, and potentially kayaking. We are offering $50 stipends for half day field trips (3 hours) and $100 stipends for full day fieldtrips (6 hours) that you assist us with. If you are interested, please fill out this application by Tuesday, September 24th. Mandatory training will be October 5-6 from 9am-3pm each day and can be rescheduled depending on the availability of applicants. Click the link below to apply today and please share with likeminded folks in your network who might be interested! https://lnkd.in/gxzEit64 #algalita #fieldtrip #docent #volunteer #longbeach #plasticpollution