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Ocean Institute Welcomes Wyland Mobile Learning Center, Open to Public on Weekends

DANA POINT, CA, February 25, 2008 - The Ocean Institute, in cooperation with the County of Orange and the Dana Point Harbor Department, is pleased to welcome the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center, a bio-diesel powered, 1,000-square foot exhibit on wheels, which is open to visitors on weekends, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. The Center is a fully-integrated, state-of-the-art mobile education center dedicated to promoting and preserving our oceans, lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. It features a 4D theater, computer modeling, hands-on science activities and art.

The Center will be on the Ocean Institute grounds through March 11.

Dan Stetson, President of the Ocean Institute, noted that the Institute was pleased to welcome the Center, as it complements the work of the Institute in its mission, ocean preservation through education. He commented, "Every day our staff works with young people educating them about the beauty and mystery of our oceans, and the importance of preserving our ocean environment. Wyland has long been an enthusiastic supporter of our mission, and has created an exhibit that adds to, and aids us in achieving our goals."

"With recent public discussions of global warming and the need to 'go green', the arrival of the Wyland exhibit is most timely," added Bentley Cavazzi, the Institute's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "It's a great way for children - and adults - to learn how they can adjust their behavior to keep our oceans and waterways clean."

The Mobile Learning Center is the brainchild of artist Wyland, who remarked, "Tomorrow’s environmental issues are calling for innovative solutions. With the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center, we can provide a unique mobile opportunity for students everywhere to learn about protecting our watersheds and wildlife – whether they live in Dana Point or Denver."

Upon entering the mobile center, visitors are asked to solve mysterious disturbances in the health of our nation's water habitats, with exhibits focusing on lake regions, river management, estuaries, and ocean runoff.

Key partners in the creation of the Center include the Ocean Institute, Rotary District 5280, Rotary International, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, the Festival of Children Foundation, Project AWARE, Primary Color, Mobility Resource Associates, Inc., Quiksilver Foundation and MacGillivray Freeman Films. Others who contributed to the Center include Sunset Stone, Hansen Publishing, Miocean, Guy Harvey Research Institute, and the Joan Irvine Smith Foundation.

Wyland expressed his gratitude to those who helped make the Center a reality, commenting, "An entire community of concerned people and benefactors throughout Orange County has come together to make this learning center a reality. We're particularly happy that the Ocean Institute has offered to house the Center when it is not traveling around the country teaching students about the importance of saving our ocean and water systems."

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