Otters and Estuaries

Otters and Estuaries

Notice of exemption for Coastal Conservancy Approval of Grant Funding: Through the Otters & Estuaries program, Outward Bound Adventures (OBA) will provide Bishop Paiute Tribal Youth a 5-day, 4-night experiential outdoor marine biology program along California’s Central Coast. This program is a collaboration between OBA, Bishop Paiute Tribal Leaders, and the Owens Valley Indian Water Commission to expand access to California’s coast and provide opportunities to engage in recreational and stewardship activities to inland tribal youth, primarily ages 15-18 years old, most of whom have never been to the coast due to cost, lack of transportation, disabilities, and other barriers. Youth will discover the diversity of birds, plants, and marine life and learn about wetlands via a kayaking adventure at the Elkhorn Slough estuary guided by scientists from the Elkhorn Slough Estuarine Research Reserve. Participants will also go behind the scenes at Monterey Bay Aquarium, view elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas Rookery, and meet innkeeper worms at Morro Bay. Throughout the trip, they will become immersed in the extraordinary world of the threatened southern sea otter. By the end of the program, participants will have a better understanding of conservation concepts and ecological systems, and will have developed skills such as setting up tents, packing backpacks, cooking and cleaning, team-building, communication, and goal-setting and achieving.

Monterey

Los Angeles, Monterey