Bryan Bell

The KEEP Environment and Program:
During their stay at KEEP Ocean students will have the opportunity to experience one of the more spectacular coastlines of the central California coast. Montana de Oro and Morro Bay State Parks combine to provide a wide variety of natural habitats for science exploration.

As students climb the coastal mountains through the chaparral ecosystem they will study geology, plant adaptations, and Native American history. Reptiles, birds, and mammals are regularly seen in the chaparral.

The shifting sands of the sand dune community provide a dynamic landscape overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Here students can study the unique flora and fauna that is adapted to this ‘semi-desert’ area.

The riparian (or streamside) ecosystem provides a cool, moist environment to compare and contrast with the drier habitats of the uplands. Under the shade of the willow trees students can listen to the babble of the creek as they learn about ecosystem components.

The nearby sandy beaches and rocky intertidal zones along with the estuary at Morro Bay all provide an incomparable display of ecosystems rich in species diversity. An abundance of waterfowl, shorebirds, and raptors share these habitats with seals, sea otters, and whales. While conducting field studies of the tidepools, salt marsh, and mudflats students are introduced to a wide variety of invertebrates that give meaning to the concepts of food webs and interdependence.

At KEEP Ocean we are guests and visitors to State Parks. Every effort is made to minimize our impact on the habitats we visit while maximizing our enjoyment and learning. KEEP Ocean is for kids!

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