The Greater Farallones Association, in partnership with Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, engages youth from middle and high schools across the San Francisco Bay Area and North Coast with ocean science through LiMPETS (Long-Term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students). LiMPETS provides immersive, science-based environmental education that empowers students to become informed and engaged ocean stewards. The LiMPETS statewide program, which connects over 5,000 students to the ocean each year, involves youth directly in a scientific endeavor, and increases their knowledge of marine environments and species along Sanctuary coastlines, the many threats to our ocean ecosystems, and the importance of those ecosystems to our planet and our lives.
LiMPETS
Providing Valuable Scientific Data
The valuable scientific data collected through LiMPETS is provided to researchers, natural resource managers, and policy makers. Students record their data in the LiMPETS database, which contains 20 years of data sets that have been used in peer-reviewed scientific journals and numerous reports. Students are empowered by the knowledge that their research will inform the work of real scientists. LiMPETS programs are available for 6th grade through college students.
Increasing Accessibility of LiMPETS Core Materials
LiMPETS is working toward increasing accessibility of its program materials, particularly for English Language Development students. We are in progress of supplementing our English materials with Spanish translations and relevant vocabulary in their primary language to facilitate content acquisition for Native Spanish speakers. GFA is translating core education tools, such as presentations, fact sheets, worksheets, and quizzes, to Spanish; working with an ESL-trained professionals to ensure cultural relevance; and creating an English to Spanish vocabulary list.
For questions, contact limpets@farallones.org.
This work is supported by:
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Office of Education Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET)
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation
California Coastal Commission – Whale Tail
California Coastal Conservancy – Explore the Coast
Disney Conservation Fund
Coastal Quest