Education

We were curious. Our curiosity was not limited, but was as wide and horizonless as that of Darwin or Agassiz or Linnaeus or Pliny. We wanted to see everything our eyes would accommodate, to think what we could, and, out of our seeing and thinking, to build some kind of structure in modeled imitation of the observed reality.​​

John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts, Sea of Cortez​

The Western Flyer Foundation offers free, hands-on educational experiences that stir curiosity and excitement about the ocean through a combination of visual arts, humanities, and marine science. Our program sites at Moss Landing (located at the junction of the rich wetland of Elkhorn Slough and Monterey Bay) and the tide pools and wharves of Monterey provide wonderful opportunities for viewing life from microscopic plankton to harbor seals and sea otters. Programs take place on the docked Western Flyer (a restored 1930s sardine vessel that helps bring the region’s diverse maritime history to life), on the coast, or on the Flyer at sea.  


Monterey Bay Oceanography Program

In collaboration with the Naval Postgraduate School and Stanford’s Hopkins Marine Station, we have developed an onboard oceanography program for post-secondary science classes. Programming includes time on the newly restored Western Flyer, where students collect and analyze scientifically valuable oceanographic data about Monterey Bay. The curriculum structure allows instructors to select focal areas appropriate for their groups, with lessons combining at-sea experiences, in-class activities, and mentorship from undergraduate and graduate student scientists. 


Western Flyer Docked Program 

Originally a 1930s sardine purse seiner, the Flyer returned to Monterey Bay in 2024 as a fully refitted research and education vessel. Students in 8th grade and above tour the docked vessel (which remains at berth throughout the program), connect to the literary and scientific history of the boat, observe marine mammals, gather plankton from waters alongside, and observe microscopic life in the hold’s new state-of-the-art marine lab.  


Coastal Field Trip Program

…when the tide goes out the little water world becomes quiet and lovely. The sea is very clear and the bottom becomes fantastic with hurrying, fighting, feeding, breeding animals. – John Steinbeck, Cannery Row 

Our Coastal Field Trip Program introduces participants of all ages to the wondrous life on the beaches and in the tidepools of the Monterey Peninsula. At Lovers Point, Moss Landing Beach, and other sites, we help kids look for crabs, nudibranchs, sculpins, anemones, and different life left behind by the receding tide. We carefully orient all first-time ocean visitors and provide appropriate gear and guidance to help all participants feel comfortable and safe throughout their explorations.  


Community Journal Project

At the Western Flyer Foundation, we believe strongly in the importance of close, careful, real-life observation in a fast-paced digital world. Our innovative Community Journal Project fosters environmental literacy by integrating visual arts, ecology, and creative writing. We pair student groups (including middle and high school classes, after school groups, and summer programs) with professional artist mentors who lead lessons on scientific illustration, nature journaling, creative non-fiction writing, and local ecology. Drawing upon and developing their new skills, students of all ages produce nature journals that we proudly display in our online art gallery. 


Community Outreach

Connect with the Western Flyer Foundation during our outreach events. Come say “hi!” during Cannery Row Days and  Monterey Whalefest. And keep an eye on our events page for other opportunities to go tidepooling, practice nature journaling, or learn more about who we are and what we do!

For more information about our education program or to schedule a visit to the Western Flyer, contact Education Director Rebecca Mostow.