OCMPAC - Education
Education is a vital component in preserving Orange County’s natural resources. By sustaining the intertidal habitat, OCMPAC strives to ensure that many generations to come can experience the dynamic nature of this “outdoor classroom.” Learning about the potential for negative human impact can also translate into a new appreciation and respect for the tidepool and offshore habitat. Whether you are an elementary school teacher, a college professor, a local resident, or a visitor interested in exploring new things, we want you to enjoy your tidepool experience while helping to keep the habitat healthy and vibrant.
Suggestions for Responsible Tidepool Use
Collecting of any material, live or dead, within MPAs is illegal unless you have a valid Scientific Collecting Permit (SCP) from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and permission from the appropriate MPA manager. “Collecting” includes picking up organisms, even if they are returned to the intertidal and not removed from the site. Failure to follow these regulations may result in fines and/or revocation of collection or research privileges in that Marine Protected Area.
We ask that you and your assistants/students follow general good tidepool etiquette by avoiding any action that may negatively affect the tidepool habitat. Please avoid trampling plants, walking in tidepools, excessively handling organisms, picking up organisms, and overturning rocks as these activities are highly detrimental and may not be allowed under the Marine Protected Areas regulations. We also request that you, as team/class leader, wear clothing that identifies you as a member of your research institution.
Education in Orange County Tidepools
- If you are taking a class to Orange County MPAs, you must contact the associated state marine reserve, park or conservation area manager in a timely fashion (~30 days) prior to your visit and fill out the Educator Use Form regardless of whether any collection is planned.
- Additional permits may be required depending on the park or conservation area manager. Access is at the discretion of each park or conservation area and must be scheduled in advance. Other educational opportunities may be offered if tidepool access is not feasible, including a sandy beach/beach wrack program.
K-12 School Programs
There are a number of programs available to instructors of K-12 school groups looking to augment classroom learning with field studies. These programs help reduce the negative impacts visitors can have on the habitat by educating students on how to gently explore this fragile ecosystem (“The Good Tidepooler Rules”). These programs are also available to homeschool groups and after-hour school programs.
Please contact the organizations below, for more information about available K-12 intertidal programs in Orange County Marine Protected Areas. If you are a college instructor learn how to bring your class to the intertidal habitat in the next section.
City of Laguna Beach
City of Newport Beach
Location: Big Corona, Little Corona
Restrictions: Reservation Required
City of Dana Point
Location: Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center, Dana Point Tidepools, Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area
Restriction: Educator Use Form Required
Contact: Bernie Villanueva-Grzecka, Natural Resources Protection Officer
(949) 248 – 3527
Crystal Cove State Park
Location: Multiple Locations
Restriction: Reservation Required
Contact: Winter Bonnin
(949) 497 – 7647
Crystal Cove Conservancy
Location: Crystal Cove State Park
Inside the Outdoors
University Programs
College instructors may need to apply for a permit prior to conducting field studies within Orange County Marine Protected Areas.
If you intend to bring your class for observation only (which includes the use of research methods such as transects, quadrats, timed counts, size measurements, and species identification) you may be required to apply for a Category Two Educator Use form with the local managing agency.
If you intend to conduct research involving manipulation of the environment, including collection or handling of macrophytes, animals, shells, rocks, water OR you intend to manipulate the natural biota or substrate as part of your research, then you must first apply for a Scientific Collection Permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. You may also be required to notify local area managers prior to conducting your research using a Category One Research Use form.
Contact the agency below to find out more about the permits required to bring your college class or conduct research within Orange County’s Marine Protected Areas:
City of Laguna Beach
Location: Laguna Beach State Marine Reserve, Laguna Beach State Marine Conservation Area
City of Newport Beach
Location: Big Corona, Little Corona
City of Dana Point
Location: Dana Point Nature Interpretive Center, Dana Point Tidepools, Dana Point State Marine Conservation Area
Restriction: Educator/Researcher Use Form Required
Contact: Bernie Villanueva-Grzeck, Natural Resources Protection Officer
(949)-248-3527
Crystal Cove State Park
Location: Multiple Locations
Restriction: Reservation Required
Contact: Winter Bonnin
(949) 497 – 7647
Crystal Cove Conservancy
Location: Crystal Cove State Park
OC Tidepool Docent Programs
Intertidal Interpretive Programs in Orange County
Several agencies and organizations throughout Orange County offer intertidal interpretive programs to increase public awareness, whereby trained educators, both paid and volunteer (ie. docents), associated with the Crystal Cove State Park, City of Dana Point, City of Laguna Beach, City of Newport Beach, and The Laguna Ocean Foundation are on-site at some of the more highly visited tide pool locations, during low tide periods, to educate the public on environmentally safe tide pooling practices.
Educators also provide for streamlined communication to enforcement personnel when illegal activities are observed. In marine protected areas, interpretative programs help alleviate human impacts by keeping visitors informed about conservation efforts (Jhaveri and Smith, 2019).
In addition, education-based programs provide visitors with a wide range of marine conservation knowledge and motivate individuals engaged in said programs to appreciate marine life, shift their attitudes and behaviors to be more environmentally responsible, and produce some long-term marine conservation intentions.
How to Get Involved with Intertidal Interpretive Programs
Docents help educate the public about the intertidal habitats of Orange County. Docents are stationed at access points to tide pool areas or on the rocks amongst the tide pools themselves. Docents greet visitors, introduce them to the rules of the Orange County Marine Protected Areas, point out interesting tide pool organisms, and address the public’s questions.
Are you interested in becoming a tide pool docent in Orange County? Contact the organization or agency you are interested in working with below:
City of Laguna Beach
City of Newport Beach
City of Dana Point
Opportunity: Tidepool Interpretive Program
Contact: Bernie Villanueva-Grzeck, Natural Resources Protection Officer
(949)-248-3527
Crystal Cove State Park
Opportunity: Tidepool Volunteers
Laguna Ocean Foundation
Opportunity: Professional Tidepool Educator Program, Volunteer Tidewater Docent Program
Educational Resources
Taking photos of marine organisms for science and conservation
Marine Mammals on the U.S. West Coast
Southern California Tidepool Organisms
Share the Shore (Brochure)
