Outreach Efforts
Education and Outreach Program
Education and outreach is an important part of the CRM program. Through the Education and Outreach Program, the agency aims to educate and involve the public in natural resource management. In order to do so effectively, CRM works to provide education beyond conventional methods to “reach out” to many different audiences in the community. Our staff members are active participants in many outreach activities throughout Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
- Partnerships: CRM partners with a number of local agencies and organizations to provide the best possible education and outreach programs. Our Education and Outreach partners include, but are not limited to the Division of Environmental Quality, the Division of Fish and Wildlife, Division of Lands and Natural Resources, CNMI Coral Reef Initiative, American Memorial Park, the CNMI Public School System, and Mariana Islands Nature Alliance.
- Community Events: Throughout the year there are many activities that CRM is a part of. At these events we often have displays, brief presentations, and fun games that emphasize the importance of protecting our costal resources. Here are just a few of the events you might see us at:
- Tinian Hot Pepper Festival
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Saipan Environmental Expo
- Rota Environmental Expo
- Saipan Community School Eco-Karnival
- Fire Station Open House
- Joeten Kiyu Public Library Open House
- Northern Marianas College Career Fair
- Rota Fiestas
- Tinian Fiestas
- Annual Cook a Rainbow event
- Presentations: Many of the CRM staff members are available to give talks or presentations about the different aspects of the CRM program to schools, organizations and businesses. Contact us for more information.
- 4th Grade Outreach: CRM, along with the other members of the CNMI Coral Reef Initiative conducts regular school outreach. In particular, we make a targeted effort to reach every fourth grade class in the CNMI. Of course, we are always happy to come and speak to any class. If you would like us to pay your class a visit, please contact the Education and Outreach Coordinator.
- Ridge to Reef Summer Camps: Runoff and sedimentation have been identified as major threats to coral reefs. “Ridge to Reef” is an educational program which takes learners out into the field and helps them understand and make the connection between land-based sources of pollution and coral reef health. It is sponsored by the CNMI Coral Reef Initiative through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. During the week long Ridge to Reef experience,participants visit watersheds, wetlands and marine protected areas; and engage in hands-on activities, discussions and field visits centering on the Ridge to Reef theme.
Summer camps are held on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. For more information, please contact the Education and Outreach Coordinator.
Teacher Camp: The Goal of the Teacher Camp is to help raise the awareness of CNMI educators about coral reefs and the issues affecting them. In addition, the camp works to provide teachers with the tools necessary to bring this information into the classroom. The Teacher Camp is funded by the Mariana Island Nature Alliance, and made possible through a partnership with CRM and DEQ.
- Saipan Tribune Environment Page: Staff from the environmental agencies regularly write articles on environmental topics for the Environment Page of the Saipan Tribune. Look for the Environment Page every Thursday.
- CRI Summer Internship program: Since 2002, CRM has coordinated the interagency marine resource management Coral Reef Initiative Summer Internship Program. This program works to raise student awareness of coral reef issues and threats and the efforts underway to protect them, provide students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in resource management, and encourage these students to pursue an education (and later a career) in an aspect of coral reef resource management.
- Volunteer monitoring– CRM staff members assist in the community and school volunteer reef flat monitoring program run by the CNMI Marine Monitoring Team. This data is used by our scientists to monitor the trends in our marine environment that can help in implementing policies to protect the marine resources. If you would like to participate in a reef flat monitoring activity, please contact the Education and Outreach Coordinator.
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Ongoing campaigns
- CNMI "Healthy Reefs, Healthy Fish" Pride Campaign
- Dive Snorkel Protect
- Walk It, Don't Drive It
- Clean Your Sheen
Outreach materials –
- 5 educational placemats were created with the help of student interns to distribute to local restaurants. Topics covered by the placemats include marine debris, fish identification, a coral reef word scramble, and coral reef friendly tips for fishermen.
- Magnet with coral reef friendly diving and snorkeling tips
- Posters about marine debris and the value of coral reefs
- Snorkeling and diving brochure
- Coral reef friendly boating display for Boater’s Awareness Week
- Permit process brochure
- Environmental trivia game
- PowerPoint presentation on CNMI Coral Reefs (importance, threats, what you can do), and Hazardous Marine Life and General Marine Safety, Fish Identification
- “Our Environment Today” Non-point Source Pollution PSAs that address sedimentation, and vehicle and boat issues.
- CNMI’s Coral Reefs: Dive, snorkel, protect video – A video on best practices while diving and snorkeling was produced by a contractor, and will be shown on the Visitor’s Channel (Channel 3) as well as incoming flights to the CNMI.
- CNMI Fishing Regulations Booklet – In conjunction with DFW, the CRM Outreach coordinator has created a fishing regulations brochure. The brochure incorporates educational material and simplifies the regulations for local fishermen.
Education:
The Education component of CRM tries to impart knowledge, instruction, enlightenment, and stewardship towards coastal resource protection and restoration. Several curricula have been created for CRM to assist teachers in educating students these issues:
- Coral reef trunks for elementary school teachers.
- Watershed curriculum.
- The CNMI Environmental Science Curriculum for middle school is now available. ARC Environmental Services was awarded a small grant to create the curriculum.
- A grade K-12 coral reef curriculum is currently up for contract.