My students had an amazing time first learning about the fresh and marine environments, adaptations of marine species and the environmental challenges facing intertidal species during their first visit to REEF.  Students then applied this knowledge into an inquiry project they developed with the guidance of the UCSB REEF staff.  Students gained the experience of collaborating with another scientist, going through the experimental design process and collecting data with live species.  This was such a rich experience for the students because they worked with enthusiastic and kn

I took a group of 20 visiting Japanese middle-school students to the REEF. It was one of the highlights of their 10-day educational trip to California. They thoroughly enjoyed the hands-on activities and learned a lot about marine life. We followed up with a field trip to the beach which they also loved. Some of them had never been to the beach before.

I have brought my AP Biology students to the REEF for several years and they always enjoy the experience of getting to observe and handle the animals that they are learning about. They have told me that their visit is one of the most memorable things they do during their junior and senior years in high school and the experience is helpful to them when they take their AP test. ... your students who run our visit are knowledgable and my students enjoy the interaction with them.

As an educator of bilingual education and a teacher passionate about science I have been very pleased with you and your team this year and last year as a wonderful co-partner of the Kids in Nature program through UCSB that our fifth graders participate in year round. My current and former students still talk about our fieldtrip to REEF and all the amazing marine animals and knowledge you and your team have imparted to them, enabling me to increase our test scores, increase content knowledge of science, and kindle in them a  life-long love and interest in science and higher learning.

It would be my pleasure to give feedback about our visit to the Reef! My 4th and 5th grade class attended a UCSB tour of campus and visit to the Reef back in February 2012. My students wrote about this visit as well. Some said that it was the best field trip they had ever taken. Coming in contact with real sea life and being able to touch these wonders was definitely the highlight of my students' visit to the Reef. The staff was knowledgeable and very friendly as well. My small class was a perfect fit for the two different areas of participation at the Reef.

My first graders loved the field trip we took to The Reef. The students from UCSB who led the groups in their exploration were engaging, knowledgeable and informative.  It was a wonderful hands-on learning experience.  We had many conversations following the field trip about how important it is to do our part to help the Earth and someone always referenced something they learned when we were at The Reef.

Ballard 1st grade has been coming to you for about 5 years now. I appreciate that your students can adjust the program to 1st grade. They [the docents] keep it challenging, asking probing questions, and pulling in prior knowledge. They allow so much hands-on with the animals and teach not only about the animals but also conservation and respect for the ocean. Thanks, we love coming to the UCSB reef program.