Kathryn Hawes the coordinator of Oregon Sea Grant’s marine education program announced they received $3,000 from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund to support field trips to Oregon State University’s Hatfield Marine Science Center . This grant she said will allow up to 30 classrooms from schools with low-income populations in the tribal service area to visit the center and learn about coastal habitats and marine research. The program offers classes and camps for K-12 youths. The activities take place at HMSC, where Oregon Sea Grant’s Visitor Center is located, and in the nearby Yaquina Bay estuary. Hawes said this program serves approximately 9,000 students each year.

Oregon Sea Grant will allocate the field trip scholarships on a first-come, first-served basis to Title 1 schools in the Siletz tribal service area. The grant was awarded during a ceremony on February 3rd at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort in Lincoln City. Last year during a camp offered by  Oregon Sea Grant’s marine education program students learned to dissect a shark and in a field trip students search for burrowing shrimp and clams in the mudflat outside the Hatfield Marine Science Center. Hawes said they are grateful to the Siletz Tribe Charitable contribution fund for the continued support with their grants. They have helped many low income students to participate in many educational activities at HMSC. For more information and to apply for a scholarship go online to   http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/visitor-center/webform/2017-scholarship-application.