Team O.C.E.A.N. (Ocean Conservation Education Action Network):

Team OCEAN is an on-the-water education and information program aimed at protecting the natural marine resources of the Florida Keys, while enriching the experiences of visitors to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It involves the stationing of trained volunteer teams at heavily visited reef sites throughout the Keys during peak recreational boating seasons in order to educate and inform other boaters about the unique nature of the coral reef habitat, share their knowledge of the best approach to certain areas, demonstrate the use of a mooring buoy, and give out various safety information.

Maritime Community Meetings:

Public meetings held periodically to update commercial and recreational users of the Sanctuary about current management issues, law enforcement concerns, research results and educational products and programs. Sanctuary staff are present and participate in providing current information as well as answering questions, addressing concerns and recording suggestions.

Public Education Announcements, Radio PSAs:

(Public Service Announcements) are aired on a variety of station formats throughout the Keys.

Over one hundred half-hour television episodes of Waterways explore the natural treasures of south Florida. Filmed on location, each episode includes interviews with local environmental experts who explain the various projects currently underway to protect this unique ecosystem. Waterways is a cooperative effort between the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Environmental Protection Agency, and Everglades National Park.

Click here for an up-to-date list of Waterways episodes

You can catch Waterways on seventeen channels in Florida. For information on channels and air times, click here.

If we're not on the air where you live, stay tuned as we add new channels throughout the state.

For more information, contact Cheva Heck, community outreach coordinator, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, (305) 292-0311, or e-mail: cheva.heck@noaa.gov

Interpretive Programs:

Interpretive programs (slide, video, storytelling, role playing) are provided upon request. Many programs are tailored to the particular interest and knowledge level of the audience. Some programs are given during snorkeling trips within the waters of the sanctuary. Formal programs include: Build an Ocean (elementary) and Coral Reef Classroom (middle school).

Coral Reef Classroom:

During this program the coral reef is the classroom and students get to be marine scientists for a day. Middle school students learn, firsthand, basic coral reef ecosystem ecology, strategies of sanctuary management and scientific techniques for monitoring various oceanographic parameters that characterize the "health" of the coral reef. This program involves a classroom presentation, a day on a boat using scientific equipment, recording data, guided snorkeling discussions, and pre- and post-tests.

Wayside Exhibits:

Interpretive signs are placed at high traffic access points to the marine environment such as public and private boat ramps, marinas and dive shops. Signs include maps, sanctuary information and address ways people can minimize their impact on the habitats of this ecosystem.

Brochure Route:

Team OCEAN staff disseminate informative brochures by providing them to establishments frequented by visitors such as dive shops, marinas, campgrounds, parks, rental boat companies, motels, bait-and-tackle shops, and chambers of commerce. This method of distribution provides periodic feedback from the local business community.

Interpretive Booths:

The Sanctuary targets user groups by staffing booths at trade shows and community events such as local seafood festivals, boat shows, dive and travel shows, educational and research conferences.

Volunteer Program:

Volunteers provide valuable assistance with education programs like Coral Reef Classroom, interpretation programs like Team O.C.E.A.N., reef cleanups, and general office work as needed.

Training Programs:

Staff assist in the design and implementation of training programs and the development of materials for these programs. Training programs have been developed for volunteers and conducted for Keys marine law enforcement officers (LEO's). LEO's are educated about the importance of and need to respond to boat groundings in any marine habitat. This training included the production of a 20 minute video.

Extension Programs:

Education staff support local groups that strive to open up the lines of communication between environmental educators, the local school system and the public. Teachers' workshops, development of a local resource manual, The Florida Keys Environmental Story, and securing the historic island of Pigeon Key as an environmental education, research facility are examples of the projects in which education staff have been involved.

Interpretive Law Enforcement:

In addition to enforcing Sanctuary regulations, Sanctuary Officers make daily contact with visitors by patrol boat, offering them a packet of brochures tailored to meet their needs and answering questions.