USM Marine Education Center Reveals Plans for New Buildings
Nearly 10 years ago, Katrina destroyed USM’s Marine Education Center in Ocean Springs, but the massive storm didn’t wipe out the school’s resolve to carry on and continue to educate, even under tough conditions.
There’s good news on the horizon as USM’ Gulf Coast Research Lab shares plans for a new center where work is already underway.
Local elementary school students play with blocks as part of a hands-on lesson at USM’ Marine Education Center. Sam Clardy, coordinator of education at the Marine Education Center, said, “That’s what we do good here at the Marine Education Center is provide a real hands-on experience, different from a lot of other facilities.”
Since Katrina, the school and education center have operated out of trailers and the former director’s home. But that will all change in about two years, as plans roll out and get underway to build a new 17 million dollar education center, just around the bend on David Bayou.
Marine Education Center Director Chris Snyder said, “Rather than try to recreate outdoor habitats on inside exhibits, which is common in a lot of learning and visitor centers, we decided to build around the beautiful, natural ones we had on our property and use them.” Dr. Jessie Kastler, coordinator of program development, said, “We’re coming up with something that is going to have the least possible impact on the environment where it’s located and help us do the best possible job in teaching students about that environment.”
Marine Education Center workers say they have gotten use to this property over the years but they’re now ready for a move that will take them from a 35-hundred square foot building to six buildings that equal 28-thousand square feet. “We did that same transition in the other direction 10 years ago and have managed, we’ve made due. And we’ve learned to teach outside in a lot more effective ways,” said Dr. Kastler.
Funding for the new Marine Education Center is nearly all funded by a FEMA grant.
There’s good news on the horizon as USM’ Gulf Coast Research Lab shares plans for a new center where work is already underway.
Local elementary school students play with blocks as part of a hands-on lesson at USM’ Marine Education Center. Sam Clardy, coordinator of education at the Marine Education Center, said, “That’s what we do good here at the Marine Education Center is provide a real hands-on experience, different from a lot of other facilities.”
Since Katrina, the school and education center have operated out of trailers and the former director’s home. But that will all change in about two years, as plans roll out and get underway to build a new 17 million dollar education center, just around the bend on David Bayou.
Marine Education Center Director Chris Snyder said, “Rather than try to recreate outdoor habitats on inside exhibits, which is common in a lot of learning and visitor centers, we decided to build around the beautiful, natural ones we had on our property and use them.” Dr. Jessie Kastler, coordinator of program development, said, “We’re coming up with something that is going to have the least possible impact on the environment where it’s located and help us do the best possible job in teaching students about that environment.”
Marine Education Center workers say they have gotten use to this property over the years but they’re now ready for a move that will take them from a 35-hundred square foot building to six buildings that equal 28-thousand square feet. “We did that same transition in the other direction 10 years ago and have managed, we’ve made due. And we’ve learned to teach outside in a lot more effective ways,” said Dr. Kastler.
Funding for the new Marine Education Center is nearly all funded by a FEMA grant.
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