Inside California Education: Cabrillo High School Aquarium – Diving into Marine Science

♪♪ Eisen: Most people, when they hear that we have an aquarium, they visualize a classroom with a couple of tanks in there but when they come and actually see what we have they're pretty blown away because of the scope of what we're doing. This is where the magic happens, right here. Eisen: We have a plethora of marine life. ♪♪ Rob: THE MAIN FLOOR OF THE AQUARIUM IS OVER FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FEET AND HOUSES MORE THAN TWENTY FIVE EXHIBITS..... THE ONE-OF-A-KIND FACILITY IS LOCATED AT CABRILLO H

IGH SCHOOL IN THE CENTRAL COAST TOWN OF LOMPOC. Eisen: Once a month we host an evening open house to the community at large. Students: Hi, welcome to the Cabrillo Aquarium! It gives everybody an opportunity to see what the students are doing and what we're all about here at the Cabrillo High School Aquarium. ♪♪ We're hosting over 7,000 visitors a year and the students are the tour guides. As advisors we just kind of step back and let them take over and run the show. Student: That little red dot

right there is Point Conception, right next to our near and dear town of Lompoc Eisen: Basically they do everything. At the beginning of each school year, there's a pretty intensive training period in terms of how to do the husbandry techniques and what the different roles are. Eisen: But you can still feed them again, yeah, because they digest pretty quickly. Chase: Whenever I say I work at the aquarium, I'm Head Curator. They're like oh so like there's a tank and you're the guy who cleans the

tank... no no no no. I'm one of the few students who are in charge of a multi-million dollar facility. Chase: You guys are buddying up. Do you have a job yet? Not yet. I don't think anyone has estuary yet if you want to cover that tank. Chase: This aquarium is the real deal. There's nothing like it. I know, I Googled 'how many aquariums are in High schools?' I couldn't find anyone. ♪♪ Eisen: there's just a really cool synergy where students have to work together with one another. Eisen: The h

ands on component is the most powerful part. They feed the animals...... They take care of the exhibits.... there's times where you know something breaks down and it's a great opportunity for a student to learn how to fix things like that. If you don't do that animals are going to suffer and animals would die. Chase: The animals definitely depend on us and it's a huge responsibility to have to watch out for all of these different animals that live in these tanks. And even hatching baby sharks fo

r example. That's a very difficult task. Greg: The ability of us having animals breeding in captivity is really a testament to the job the students are doing. Greg: We're not trying to crank out marine scientists, honestly this is a training program. Chase: So talk about that definitely. Eisen: A big part of their job is they got to train the next generation, and not only that they gotta get them interested in wanting to take on that responsibility and carry the baton and keep that program going

and improving every year. Rob: THE AQUARIUM STARTED MODESTLY IN 1986 WITH THE VISION OF ONE TEACHER -- DAVE LONG.... THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS AND GRANTS DAVE'S DREAM HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL CLUB TO A PROGRAM WITH MORE THAN 200 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN CLASSES THAT COVER TOPICS LIKE TOURISM, MARINE SCIENCE AND AQUARIUM OPERATIONS. Dave: Good job guys. The Cabrillo High School Aquarium, is a passionate part of my life, and I'm extremely proud of it. And the reason that I am is to see the students t

hat work in here Dave Long: it's overwhelming to come and then see it continue to perpetuate itself through these students When we see young people and they're talking to little children about what their passionate about. There is no teacher that could give them the same message as those high school students who those young people look up to and admire. Kailey: Alright! Hey there scuba kiddos, my name is Kailey and I am your scuba expert for the day. Kailey: It's really wonderful to be able to w

ork with the kids of our community. And for some of these children it's the first time they've ever had an encounter with water, or the ocean itself. So for me to be able to show them how wonderful it is, and how much there is to learn about it is awesome They're all ready for us. I've had anywhere from a kid smiling saying, "You made my day, I really love the ocean a lot more now," to , "I'm gonna go to Cabrillo High School because I wanna be like you and work in the Cabrillo High School Aquar

ium. Kailey: I'm so excited I have the pleasure of diving with all of you today. Kailey: We just give the best experience to the kids that come through, we can really change lives. Kailey: Do any of you know what adaptation is? Yes! Student: Getting used to like a certain place. A certain temperature. Kailey: I think I definitely wouldn't be the person I am today. The aquarium has really grown a lot more confidence in myself. As I was growing up, I had a bad speech impediment and I actually had

learning disabilities as well. but working in this aquarium, it's just shown me just, if you really wanna do something, you'll be able to achieve it no matter how hard it seems that it may be. My junior year, I lost my dad to Stage Four cancer, and I really wanted to give up. When I learn more about the ocean, it makes me feel that I may be closer to my dad He always told me to never give up, like, share your passion, do as much as you can, and that's where I am today. Eisen: It is so satisfying

to me to see students grow and develop and rise. they come in here and they just, a spark is like lit. Group: One, Two, Three: Seaquest! Eisen: They are capable of doing such amazing things and they just need opportunities. this aquarium, it's a tool. It's a tool for students to be able to take their learning to a whole new level. ♪♪ Annc: The majority of the animals at the Cabrillo High School Aquarium are native to the nearby Central Coast. That includes cartilage fish like horn sharks and sw

ell sharks; as well as bony fish, like surf perch and sculpins. The aquarium also features Thornback rays, as well as invertebrate animals such as sea cucumbers, sea urchins, sea stars and corals.