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Through Sanctuary educational and interpretive programs, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration seeks to broaden public awareness and understanding of the marine resources at Gray's Reef. Direct access to the reef itself requires experience in open-ocean diving, thus limiting the opportunity for a firsthand encounter with the Sanctuary environment. For this reason, the educational programs focus on land-based interpretive themes and exhibits.
Educational Materials Gray's Reef National Marine Sanctuary sponsors community outreach marine programs, public seminars, presentations and exhibits. Education publications include: an illustrated fish guide , educational handbooks useful to teachers interested in a marine curriculum and a new North Atlantic Right Whale curriculum. Gray's Reef teacher intern from Bartlett Middle School created two parts for our homepage. She developed a questionnaire of "Questions students ask about Gray's Reef" and a list of "Marine Science Careers". Gray's Reef also has educational posters available to teachers which were created by Gray's Reef and the University of Georgia's Marine Extension Service. Programs To support teachers locally and throughout the state and those not able to bring students to the coast, Gray's Reef has developed several different educational programs. The modules help teachers instruct their students about endangered species in in their own backyards, motivates students to investigate fresh water and ocean ecosystems and reveals the fascinating secrets of the northern right whale. These modules include a teacher's guide with work sheets for copying, complete activity video tape as well. The activities have all been classroom tested and deemed educational and fun by participating students. The modules are targeted for different grade levels and are free for the asking. In addition to the distant learning programs and the educational modules, Gray's Reef provides the opportunity for local area high school students to participate in the Student Ocean Council program.
Distance Learning 
To further aid teachers locally and throughout the state and especially those not able to bring students to the coast, Gray's Reef has developed several different educational modules. The modules help teachers instruct their students about endangered species in in their own backyards, motivates students to investigate fresh water ecosystems and reveals the fascinating secrets of the northern right whale. These modules include a teacher's guide with work sheets for copying, complete activity video tape as well. The activities have all been classroom tested and deemed educational and fun by participating students. The modules are targeted for different grade levels and are free for the asking.
Sea Turtles  Gray's
Reef is an ideal habitat for the threatened loggerhead sea
turtle. The ledges and overhangs of the reef provide the
loggerhead sea turtle with protected resting spots, a
bountiful resource of food, and close proximity to nesting
sites on barrier island beaches. Observations by sanctuary
staff have documented the presence of various size and age
groups of loggerhead sea turtles within the sanctuary.
Surprisingly little is known about the sea turtle's daily
and seasonal behavior or their use of the ocean habitats,
especially off the coast of Georgia. Most of the studies on
these marine reptiles have focused on more accessible
nesting behavior and post nesting movement of adult females,
while little work has been conducted on the rest of the sea
turtle population. Satellite telemetry can significantly
contribute to the study of an animal that is inaccessible or
difficult to follow. The satellite-based location and data
collection system allows a transmitter attached to an animal
to be located to within 150 meters. Environmental parameters
(i.e. temperature) collected by sensors attached to the
transmitter are also available, thereby providing specific
location and environmental conditions for a tagged animal
over time.
**Follow loggerhead sea
turtles in the ocean with satellite transmitters.**
Other Programs and Events |
