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Sarah McGuire - Education Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay NERR, Virginia
Name: Sarah McGuire
What is your expertise or focus area?
I am the Education Coordinator for the Chesapeake Bay NERR in Virginia. Our reserve is located on the Virginia Institute of Marine Science campus, thus we use a lot of resources from VIMS in our programs. My job focuses on increasing people’s knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the Chesapeake Bay estuary and just getting them excited to get outside, explore, and learn more about our estuary.
What education, training, and experiences led you to your current job with the NERRS?
I have always been interested in being either a marine biologist or a teacher, and this job is the perfect combination of the two. I started out at East Carolina where I got a BS in Biology, with a concentration in marine biology. From there, I did an internship with Mote Marine Lab in Florida in their marine education program which really pushed me in the direction of education more than research. I then got my MS in Environmental Studies from the College of Charleston, working on curriculum development in marine science. I started working at the CBNERR as an education specialist on our 7th grade program after graduation from the College of Charleston, which eventually turned into a position as the Education Coordinator.
What are some interesting aspects of your job?
One of the most interesting aspects of my job is that there is always something new. Even though I have done many, many field trips at the same site here at our Reserve, you never know what you are going to find. Many times we will catch something that I’ve never seen before which is always fun to see and learn about. It’s also great because I get to spend the majority of my time outside working with a wide variety of people. We visit oyster reefs, salt marshes, beaches, islands, do canoe trips, restoration projects, work with all types of animals, do lab projects, and are constantly learning new things about the Chesapeake Bay.
What is the most unusual or most unexpected thing that has happened to you while working with or in estuaries?
One of the most unexpected things that has happened to me while working in the NERR system is getting to travel to visit other estuaries all over the country. Last year I was able to visit the Alaska NERR and participate in education programs that their reserve hosts. We went tidepooling and saw all kinds of intertidal animals that are completely different than the East Coast such as giant sea stars and huge kelp. I also went whale watching and saw my first moose! The NERR system is so varied that it is always fun to see how the other Reserves are structured and how their estuary is different to ours.
What is your proudest achievement in your job?
My proudest achievement in my job has just been the programs that we have put out and the people that I have been able to work with and teach. It is always rewarding to see students excited about marine science, and to come up with new ways to make that happen and new audiences to reach is the best part of my job.
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Last Updated on: 07-01-2008
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