A reflection and invitation from Daniela Huson of OCR
Hands-on citizen science. A lasting shift in how youth sees the ocean—and themselves.
| Have you ever had a moment in nature as a child that quietly shaped the way you show up in the world?
I remember one. It was a summer night camping on Mount Tamalpais State Park—cliffs overhead, the ocean nearby, and fog woven through the trees. As part of a youth adventure camp, we were on our one overnight trip when one of our counselors brought out drums for a performance under the stars. I wasn’t part of the plan—I’d never even touched a drum (unless you count tapping a pencil on a desk!). But he noticed the curiosity in my eyes and invited me in. There was something in his calm, grounded presence that made it easy to say yes. That night, I joined the rhythm—alongside others—and felt an elemental connection. To the kids and counselors around me. It was subtle, but it stayed with me. A sense of belonging—anchored in nature, shaped by community, and sparked by presence. Of course I didn’t know it at the time, but that moment would shape how I show up for others—especially the students we bring to sea. Many are stepping onto a boat for the first time—unsure of what to expect, but open to what unfolds. They peer through microscopes and discover a universe inside a single drop of seawater. They pause—not just to observe, but to listen. And in that listening, the noise quiets—and something within begins to shift. It opens a way of being that isn’t taught in classrooms, but becomes part of who they are— a felt sense of belonging that rises from the water, the air, and the presence of others beside them. The pressure of school hallways, the noise of comparison and expectation, begins to fall away. In its place: curiosity, reflection, and awareness. Some students leave envisioning a future in marine biology. They return to shore not just with knowledge, but with a quiet shift in identity: part of the sea, part of its story. They feel the interconnectedness—between science and story, silence and sound, plankton and whales, the Bay and all of us. This Earth Month—and in honor of Citizen Science Month—you can help create that moment for someone else. We’re raising $7,000 to send 60 underserved students on this journey. Every $150 sponsors one student’s full experience—and through April 30, your gift will be doubled thanks to a generous match. |