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Barnegat Bay Teacher Professional Development

December 13, 2024 0
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You know that we have delivered programs to students and the community for over 50 years, educating on and about our beautiful bay. What you might not know, is that we are a part of statewide initiatives leading on environmental education and teacher professional development. As a grassroots organization, we see it as a part of our work to empower local communities with the tools they need to take on challenges related to the local environment.

This Way to Barnegat Bay

We realized that no matter how many school presentations and public programs SBB conducted, we were NEVER going to reach the over 1 million people that call our shore towns “home” in Ocean County for the summer. Thus began the reinvigoration of our “This Way to Barnegat Bay” curriculum (TWBB).

Project SEA

SBB partnered with TCNJ to lead “Project SEA”, born out of TWBB updating to current classroom standards, but blossomed into statewide teacher professional development. Our teachers in Barnegat Bay have had access to free programming, lesson plans, Ocean Literacy, Barnegat Bay ecosystems, local solutions, local businesses, local experts, and a teacher network. 

Project SEA has allowed us to reach: 

  • 6 programs 
  • 100 teachers 
  • 40+ Ocean County educators. 

Since learning from our Project SEA grant*, we have enhanced our teacher professional development programming with unforgettable opportunities teachers will not soon forget. We have completed two overnight trips to the Sedge Island Natural Resource Education Center for teachers of all subject areas and grades.

Climate Education Book

Now as a culmination of this work, Graceanne (as a part of a team of informal educators from around the state) has contributed to a piece of a new book coming out February 2025  “Climate Change Education Across Disciplines. This book contains excerpts from experts around the state of NJ working in different education sectors on the challenges and successes of New Jersey’s leading climate change education initiative. 

You can be a part of this work too! 

  1. Sign up for our future teacher professional development workshops at Save Barnegat Bay (all grades, subjects, and all types of educators welcome)
  2. Check out our lesson plans aligned to NGSS, ocean literacy, Barnegat Bay and more
  3. Order a copy of “Climate Change Education Across Disciplines”

*Project SEA was funded in two grant cycles by the NJ SeaGrant Consortium

Climate Education Book

Now as a culmination of this work, Graceanne (as a part of a team of informal educators from around the state) has contributed to a piece of a new book coming out February 2025  “Climate Change Education Across Disciplines. This book contains excerpts from experts around the state of NJ working in different education sectors on the challenges and successes of New Jersey’s leading climate change education initiative. 

You can be a part of this work too!

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Alexandra Sellitsch

Alex is 27 years old and is an aspiring marine biologist who is finishing up her junior year at Stockton University. Growing up by the beach has made a significant impact on Alex’s life, which has influenced her passion for the ocean. She is an advocate for elasmobranch conservation, and enjoys getting her hands dirty in research. Alex is currently an intern with Barnegat Bay, researching pathogen influences in the bay’s water. She is also an active intern partnering with one of her professors, who is researching dual seagrass habitats in the Mullica River-Great Bay Estuary. In her spare time, Alex enjoys spending time at the beach and teaching herserself new hobbies. Hobbies that include roller skating, and surfing. Alex is also volunteering with the Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue Team, and is in the process of obtaining her SCUBA certification.