Kbeea member offerings

The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (KBNERR) is part of a national network of 30 reserves, and focuses on coastal and watershed ecology and oceanography. KBNERR provides many different opportunities for hands-on science education:

• Classroom Visits & Field Trips - KBNERR educators can support your work by visiting your classroom, taking your students into the field, and providing equipment, data and ideas to support your lesson plans

  • Peatlands

  • Salt Marsh Estuaries

  • European Green Crab Monitoring

  • Plankton

  • Tunicates

  • Geology

  • Communicating through Science - interpreting learning through creative arts

• Learning Tools & Curriculum Resources

  • NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System Curriculum Resources:

    • Estuaries 101

    • Data Mysteries

  • ID Guides and Protocals

  • Peatland Curriculum for grades K-5

  • EPSCoR Curriculum (National Science Foundation's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research)

• Science Tools & Instruments - KBNERR has a variety of research and monitoring tools teachers can borrow. Examples include:

  • Mini-microscopes 

  • Water quality kits

  • Watershed maps and models

  • ID guides

  • And lots more... reach out with specific requests!

• Professional Development - The Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) teacher training offers educators an opportunity to gain a continuing education credit while learning about current research and monitoring efforts and practical tools for bringing place-based science back to the classroom.

• Internship Opportunities - KBNERR offers multiple internship opportunities for high school through graduate level students.

Visit the EDUCATOR page on the KBNERR website to see a full list of offerings and curriculum resources,
and reach out to Education Coordinator Ingrid Harrald with any questions.

The Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies (CACS) focuses on science-based environmental education, conservation, and stewardship of the Kachemak Bay. With five different locations, CACS offers a broad range of programming year round.

• School Programs - 

  • Residential Overnight & Day Programs - Topics include:

    • Winter Ecology

    • Alaska Coastal Ecology

    • Kachemak Bay Onboard Oceanography

    • Wynn Nature Center Explorations

    • Creatures of the Dock

    • Beluga Wetlands

    • Coastwalk Education

  • Naturalist visits to your classroom

• Resources for Educators - CACS has an extensive collection of teacher resources available on their website. Topics include:

  • Curriculum Guides:

    • Sea Ducks

    • Endangered Species

    • Alaska CoastWatch

    • Invasive Plants

  • Teaching Kits:

    • Paper Making

    • Fish Printing

    • ANROE Fire Building

  • Activity Guides:

    • Stewardship and Taking Care of our Environment

    • Observing our Environment

    • Marine Debris

    • Forest Animals & Ecology

    • Weather, Currents & Tides

    • Plankton & other Ocean Life

    • Grades K-3 Activities

  • Summer Camps - CACS offers day and overnight nature camps for kids, teen camps and expeditions, as well as family nature camps.

Visit the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies website to see a full list of locations, offerings and resources,
and reach out to Program Director Kaite Gavenus with any questions.