Ocean Institute Weekend Activities to Celebrate International Year of the Reef,
Kicks Off at Earth Day Celebration, April 19
DANA POINT, CA, March 25, 2008 - Recognizing that there is an urgent need to increase awareness and understanding of coral reefs and to further conserve and manage valuable coral reef and associated ecosystems, the International Coral Reef Initiative has designated 2008 as the "International Year of the Reef (IYOR)." On weekends April 19-20 through the end of September, the Ocean Institute will present hands-on labs, speakers, arts & crafts, films and more to introduce visitors to coral reefs and our own local rocky reefs.
The Institute's IYOR exhibition will kick off at our Earth Day Celebration, Saturday, April 19. Special guest speaker Colleen Wisniewski, Southern California Manager for Reef Check, will address visitors 11:30 a.m. - noon; Mike Epeneter, Chairman of the Respect the Beach educational outreach program for Surfrider Foundation, South Orange County Chapter, will speak noon - 12:30 p.m. On Earth Day, visitors can also visit booths staffed by representatives from the Surfrider Foundation, Reef Check and the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Visitors who join in local beach clean-ups in the morning are eligible to receive free admission in the afternoons (visit www.surfrider.org/southorangecounty/ for beach clean-up locations).
The Ocean Institute is open to the general public on weekends, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cost: $6.50 adults, $4.50 children (ages 4-12), Ocean Institute members free. Unique maritime and ocean-themed items are available in the Chambers Gallery everyday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Institute address: 24200 Dana Point Harbor Dr., Dana Point. Website: www.ocean-institute.org. Phone: (949) 496-2274.
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