The Ocean Institute is an ocean education organization located in Dana Point, California. Founded as the Marine Institute in 1977, it offers ocean science and maritime history programs for K-12 students and their teachers. Over 100,000 students and 8,000 teachers from Orange County and the surrounding counties participate yearly in immersion-style programs in the Institute's oceanfront labs and abroad.[1]
The Institute is open to the general public on weekends, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; visitors can see marine animals and ocean-themed exhibits.
Moored at the Institute is its 70-foot marine science research vessel, the R/V Sea Explorer, used for student programs and to take visitors on trips to see marine wildlife, including whale watching. The Institute also maintains the Lazy-W Ranch, a camp located in the Cleveland National Forest where students study the ecosystem. It provides outreach programs via a mobile laboratory provided by the "Ocean in Motion" van and distance learning via video conference.[2]
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The Institute maintains two tall ships, the Pilgrim, a 130-foot vessel used in overnight and dockside programs, and the Spirit of Dana Point, a 118-foot topsail schooner. The Pilgrim is a replica of the tall ship that Richard Henry Dana, Jr. sailed onboard into Dana Point in the 1830s. Tall ship programs simulate the experience of a sailor in the 1830s.[3]
The Pilgrim and Spirit of Dana Point are showcased at the Institute's largest annual event, the Toshiba Tall Ships Festival,[4] held in September. It draws seven or eight tall ships from up and down the coast, and features pirates, singing, cannon battles and a chance to sail on a tall ship.
The Ocean Institute has an annual budget of $6 million, and employs 100 full and part-time staff members, as well utilizing the services of hundreds of volunteers. Professional partners include JPL, the National Science Foundation and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Supporters include the Swenson Family Foundation, the Samueli Foundation, Quiksilver and KOCE, among others. Dan Stetson, who joined the Institute staff in 1992, serves as the Institute’s president. It is funded through school visitations, state and city grants, as well as gifts from local philanthropists. The watershed education program is funded by Miocean and the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association.[1][5]
The Institute's largest annual fundraiser is its Laguna Beach Million Dollar Home Raffle,[6] which began in 2005.