Thirty years ago, local school teachers grabbed a seine net and took a group of island visitors out to the surf. Thus was born our Tybee Island Marine Science Center.
Since 2007, over a half-million people, children to retirees, connected to the coast through the Center’s education and conservation programs.
In 2009, we developed a workplace training program for new biologists. Today, there are 72 seasoned marine science educators—working from Hawaii to Maine—who prepared for their careers with us on Tybee Island.
Sidewalk to the Sea brings Savannah’s inner city students to the island for a Coastal Classroom. Only 15 miles from the coast, this field trip is the first time many kids will see their ocean. Since 2011, with support from the City of Tybee Island, 36,800 students have gone through the program.
We’ve accomplished all of this with a single classroom, an apartment-sized exhibit gallery, and an island. Imagine the impact we’ll make with seven classrooms, a 3,500 sq. ft. exhibit gallery, and much more in our spectacular new facility—currently under construction—on Tybee’s North Beach.
