Learn about the Morro Bay estuary from anywhere in the world!
Curious about the estuary, but aren’t able to make it to our nature center? Check out the resources on our virtual nature center instead! We have a variety of videos, games, and activities that allow you to learn about our watershed no matter where you are.
MUTTS FOR THE BAY – DOG POOP POLLUTES!
Learn about the impacts of pet waste in your local watershed!
Our Mutts for the Bay program stocks and maintains over 30 dog bag dispensers in Morro Bay and Los Osos. Each year we dispense over 250,000 bags, which keeps literally tons of pet waste out of our watershed!
The “Dog Poop Pollutes” activities teach kids about the importance of eco-friendly dog ownership. They will learn about the connection between land and sea, nonpoint source pollution, water quality, and more. These lessons are suitable for both virtual and in-person learning. If you are an educator in the San Luis Obispo area, ask us about our in-school programming options! Curriculum development was funded by a generous grant from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust.
“Dog Poop Pollutes” – welcome letter for educators
“Dog Poop Pollutes” – K-5th grade lesson plan
Become a steelhead trout, race past obstacles, and jump to reach tasty bugs in Upstream Rush!
In this video game, you are a steelhead trout making the journey upstream toward freshwater pools after your time in the salty bay. Along the way, you must do your best to avoid fishermen hoping to catch you, seals and birds looking to make you into dinner, and more. Earn points by finding places to hide in the eelgrass or rocks while searching for bugs to eat to keep up your energy. It’s all about how aware and sneaky you can be as this game takes you through the wilds of the estuary and creeks in an Upstream Rush.
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS COLLABORATIVE RESOURCES
Dive into Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and see how they protect California’s waters and wildlife.
The Morro Bay National Estuary Program is a member of the San Luis Obispo Marine Protected Areas Collaborative. The MPA Collaborative website has an extensive resource library, featuring free curriculum, lesson plans, and activities for kids in grades K-12.
Below are just a few of the resources offered by the MPA Collaborative. Click the links to learn more and download each resource for free!
Estimate how much water you use at home each week and see how you can save with the water footprint calculator!
Answer simple questions about what you do around your home to see how much water you use each week. This free resource is available in English and Spanish, and includes tips for saving water as well as resources for educators.
Be a bay-friendly superhero!
Our Morro Bay estuary needs YOU to guard its natural treasures. Head outside to see the estuary with your kids and complete the challenges on the Bay-Friendly Superhero Activity Page. Find out how your family can protect the estuary and be superheroes for the bay.
COMMUNITY SCIENCE PROJECT FINDER
Help scientists collect data for cool projects!
Community science (also known as citizen science) is scientific work done by members of the general public, often in collaboration with scientists and researchers. Engaging community members allows for more data to be collected and analyzed, which can lead to greater scientific discoveries!
Check out the links below for community science opportunities online and in-person.
Zooniverse.org is an online community science platform that has nearly 100 projects, ranging from journal transcription to bird identification. Join over 2 million volunteers that have made over 250 million classifications!
The California Academy of Sciences supports community science throughout the state. Click the link above to learn more about Cal Academy and how to get involved with annual projects such as City Nature Challenge and Snapshot Cal Coast.
The Estuary Program has several community science opportunities right here in Morro Bay! You can host a trash cleanup, track rainfall, or join our volunteer monitoring team. For more information, contact Forest at flurz@mbnep.org.
GET INVOLVED WITH THE ESTUARY PROGRAM
The Estuary Program offers field trips, community events, volunteer opportunities, and more. Check out the links below to find out how to get involved!
The Estuary Program offers field trips for schools, community groups, and organizations who want to learn more about our estuary and watershed. Visit our field trip webpage here to learn more and to submit a field trip inquiry form.
- VIRTUAL MORRO BAY ESTUARY NATURE CENTER KIOSK
- VIDEO GAME—UPSTREAM RUSH
- DISCOVER MARINE PROTECTED AREAS: CALIFORNIA COASTAL EXPLORER GUIDE
- WATER USAGE CALCULATOR
- BAY-FRIENDLY SUPERHERO ACTIVITY PAGE
- THE CLEAN WATER PLEDGE
Check out the games, puzzles, and challenges below and explore our estuary through science!
VIRTUAL MORRO BAY ESTUARY NATURE CENTER
Have fun, learn about the Morro Bay estuary, and see how you can help it.
Videos allow you to dive beneath the eelgrass, see a 12-hour tide cycle, and talk with people who love the bay. Play a video game that allows you to become a steelhead trout making the journey upstream toward freshwater pools after your time in the salty bay. Learn all about the bugs that live in our streams and what they tell us about the health of our bay. See how climate change might affect the estuary, and use the water calculator to see how much water you use each week and how you could conserve it.
DOG POOP POLLUTES! EDUCATIONAL COLORING BOOK, GAME, and SCIENTIFIC MONITORING SURVEY
STEAM activities for home or school, with a silly, stinky twist.
This series of interactive STEAM lessons gives kids the chance to read, write, draw, create, laugh, and get moving. They might be giggling and ewwing about dog poop, but they’ll be tuned in and learning about the connection between land and sea, nonpoint source pollution, water quality, human health, scientific survey methods, and environmental stewardship. These lessons are suitable for classrooms, both digital and brick-and-mortar, and at-home learning. Download the Educator Welcome Letter, K–5 Lesson Plan, Coloring and Storybook, and Neighborhood Dog Poop Survey (grades 5–7) below! Curriculum development was funded by a generous grant from the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust.
VIDEO GAME—UPSTREAM RUSH
Become a steelhead trout, race past obstacles, and jump to reach tasty bugs in Upstream Rush!
In this video game, you are a steelhead trout making the journey upstream toward freshwater pools after your time in the salty bay. Along the way, you must do your best to avoid birds trying to make you a snack, fishermen hoping to catch you, seals looking to make you into dinner, and more. Earn points by finding places to hide in the eelgrass or rocks while searching for bugs to eat to keep up your energy. It’s all about how aware and sneaky you can be as this game takes you through the wilds of the estuary and creeks in an Upstream Rush.
DISCOVER MARINE PROTECTED AREAS: CALIFORNIA KIDS COASTAL EXPLORER GUIDE AND MORE
Dive into Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and see how they protect California’s waters and wildlife.
The Morro Bay National Estuary Program is a member of the San Luis Obispo Marine Protected Areas Collaborative. The Collaborative members worked together to create the 16-page Discover Marine Protected Areas – California Coastal Explorer Guide in both English and Spanish. The booklet features fun activities that educate its readers on Marine Protected areas like the Morro Bay estuary, wildlife, ocean safety, recreational opportunities and more. You’ll even find experiments that you can do at home, with just a few household ingredients!
WATER USAGE CALCULATOR
Estimate how much water you use at home each week and see how you can save.
Answer simple questions about what you do around your home to see how much water you use each week, then adjust your answers to see how you can reduce your water use.
BAY-FRIENDLY SUPERHERO ACTIVITY PAGE
Be a bay-friendly superhero!
Our Morro Bay estuary needs YOU to guard its natural treasures. Head outside to see the estuary with your kids and complete the challenges on the Bay-Friendly Superhero Activity Page (print at home or pick up a copy in our Estuary Nature Center). Find out how your family can protect the estuary and be superheroes for the bay.
(Answer Key) Bay-Friendly Superhero Activity Page
SCIENCE PROJECT FINDER
Help scientists collect data for cool projects.
Check out the featured kid-friendly project on the left or use the finder on the right to discover a project that’s just right for you.