CONTACT: Emily Stehle, APR

Phone: (727) 895-7437, ext. 207

estehle@pieraquarium.org

www.pieraquarium.org

 

 

St. Petersburg, FL (Feb. 9, 2010) – Thanks to grants from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program and the Alvah H. and Wyline P. Chapman Foundation, The Pier Aquarium’s Ocean in Motion (OIM) mobile touch tank will soon be on the road for one year visiting elementary schools and community centers in Pinellas County.

 

OIM is a collaborative initiative involving elementary school teachers, local marine research institutions and The Pier Aquarium to provide teachers and their students a unique seven-week marine science education program. The program was originally created in 2005 as a school outreach and funded by the Sunrise Rotary Club and the St. Petersburg Times. Over the years, its reach was expanded to include family service community centers. Additional sponsors include the Pinellas County Commission through the Pinellas County Cultural Affairs Department's Cultural Development Grant Program, the Sunrise Rotary Club, Beach Drive and Downtown Business Association and Media Sponsor St. Petersburg Times.

 

OIM received a $7,500 mini-grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program. The Alvah H. and Wyline P. Chapman Foundation, St. Petersburg, awarded $3,500 to make the program available to more community sites. The first three sites selected to house Ocean in Motion are Campbell Park Elementary Marine Science Program, St. Petersburg, Gulfport Elementary School, Gulfport and Bauder Elementary School, Largo.

 

The OIM discovery adventure is hands-on as the students collect their critters from the wild for the tank. Led by aquarium education staff and aquarists, the students learn about marine habitat, water quality, the food web, marine diversity, adaptations, animal behavior and care and ecosystem stewardship.

 

The traveling touch tank was previously housed at Campbell Park Elementary Marine Science Program, Clearview Avenue Elementary, Great Explorations, Meadowlawn Middle School, Northside Boys and Girls Club, Wyngate Boys and Girls Club, Ridgecrest Elementary and Southside Fundamental Middle School. OIM has also traveled to Bauder Elementary School’s Science Fair and made appearances at The Pier Aquarium’s Kids’ Fishing Tournament.

 

In all the schools the OIM tank was placed in an area where everyone could observe the animals and share what they saw and learned.

 

 

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program
www.tbep.org

 

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) is a partnership of local governments and state and federal environmental agencies that was formed in 1990 to develop a conservation and management plan for Tampa Bay. In addition to conducting research and implementing strategies for bay restoration, TBEP also develops programs to educate citizens about ways to prevent water pollution and protect Tampa Bay.

 

 

This Foundation was created in 1967 to honor and memorialize Alvah H. and Wyline P. Chapman and to perpetuate their charity and concern for others. Alvah H. Chapman was president of the R.W. Page Corporation, owner of three newspapers and television and radio stations in Columbus, GA from 1937-1961.

 

Mr. Chapman was an active civic leader serving on the boards of the Columbus Housing Authority and the St. Luke United Methodist Church. Wyline Page Chapman was also active in the church and was a life member of the Columbus Salvation Army Board of Directors.

 

The trustees and members of the Foundation are the direct descendants (and spouses) of Alvah H. and Wyline P. Chapman, including their children, Alvah H. Chapman, Jr. and Wyline C. Sayler. The Foundation support religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes in areas where the descendants of Alvah H. and Wyline P. Chapman now reside or have interests.

 

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