Living classrooms: Teaching ocean education through NOAA's national marine sanctuaries

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) national marine sanctuaries (NMS) are living classrooms where people can see, touch, and learn about America's ocean and Great Lakes treasures. The National Marine Sanctuary Program education mission is to enhance public awareness, understanding and appreciation of the marine environment. Including both formal and informal educational activities, the NMS Education Program teaches conservation and sustainable public uses of the sanctuaries in the classroom, at sea, and in the field. This paper describes various exciting ocean literacy initiatives that NOAA supports through its National Marine Sanctuary Program.