At the heart of the Channel Islands science department, the Marine Science Academy is a beacon of knowledge and opportunity into the exploration of the coastal wonders around us.
Ms. Theresa Lujan, the advisor of MSA, states the history of the academy began more than 15 years ago with Mr. David Haynes, a retired science teacher. The purpose of MSA is to give students an opportunity to acquire career-based skills and knowledge in the area of natural resources.
“There was a grant that became available that we applied for and we have been able to renew our grant every year,” Ms. Lujan states. “It’s a cool thing for CI to have.”
It’s a 3-year CTE Pathway, a progression of electives including natural resources I and II, marine biology, and environmental field studies where students are in a cohort of their grade level. “It really follows the model of a school within a school,” Ms. Lujan remarked.
In their first two years, students acquire a background that allows them to do a capstone project in their senior year. Hopefully, the capstone focuses on an environmental theme, giving them an opportunity to do work aligned with careers in ecology, natural resource management, etc. In the program, one of the focuses is learning about local environmental issues that these students can have an impact on.
When asked about her favorite part of being involved, Ms. Lujan states her love for being able to go to the Channel Islands a lot. “As a teacher I’m pretty lucky,” she said.
MSA students get to go on an abundance of field trips during their three years. Citlaly Ramirez, a senior and TA for Ms. Lujan, says that her favorite field trip is camping at Santa Rosa Island because of the stars. She has gone each of the past three years.
Natalie Torres, a junior, stated her favorite field trip memory was “last year when we went camping to Leo Carrillo. We were at the beach and everyone was looking for the different anemones in a handout we had.
“Everyone was so excited. I remember they looked like nerds clusters.”
When asked if she enjoyed MSA, Ramirez commented, “Yes, it’s been a fun experience, it’s not something you normally learn about, (and) you get a lot of good opportunities within MSA like paid internships and jobs.”
Torres also states, “I feel like I’ve become very fond of the academy. It’s a good program that’s given me a lot of opportunities and it’s genuinely nice being surrounded by people that are ready to learn!”
Equipping students with the skills and knowledge to tackle challenges brought to them, the Marine Science Academy is fostering a community of dedicated students to preserve life on Earth for years to come.
