Bringing the Ocean to Catalina
A Mobile Ocean Classroom Story
Aquarium educator, Linette Tang, engages students during the Tidepool Treasures program. Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific
May 28, 2025
The Aquarium’s Mobile Ocean Classroom (MOC) recently made a splash at Avalon School on Catalina Island on April 29. Over the course of a single day, the program reached 182 transitional kindergarten (TK) through 5th grade students with interactive activities designed to bring the ocean to life. Students danced like ocean animals, explored a tidepool model, and discovered how fish adapt to their environments—turning learning into an immersive adventure.
Avalon School, part of the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), often faces limited access to outreach programs due to its island location. This visit was part of a broader effort to ensure that all students in LBUSD, regardless of geography, have equal opportunities to connect with the ocean and its inhabitants. Mobile Ocean Classroom aims to inspire the next generation of ocean stewards, instilling a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems.
“The Aquarium educators were very engaging, and my students had so much fun learning and dancing like different marine animals. They loved it so much we acted like different animals as we transitioned from activities all day!” remarked TK teacher Theresa Gleeson.
In 2022 the Aquarium of the Pacific launched Mobile Ocean Classroom, an outreach initiative designed to bring the wonders of the ocean directly to LBUSD without a fee. They educate preschool to high school learners through hands-on experiences that foster a deeper connection to the ocean and its inhabitants. Educators are equipped with animal artifacts, tidepool and fish models, and multimedia.
Mobile Ocean Classroom has reached more students each year. During the 2023 school season, it interacted with 3,657 students and then almost doubled its engagement in 2024, reaching 6,232 students. This increase came from additional interest from the TK community wanting to incorporate Mobile Ocean Classroom into its curriculum. Additionally, it worked with middle school onsite wellness centers to create an aquarium career program, illustrating there are many different ways to work at the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Mobile Ocean Classroom registration is now open for the Long Beach Unified School District for the 2025-2026 school year. Read about the various Mobile Ocean Classroom programs. Please contact our Guest Support Center to book at 561-590-3100 ext.0.
