Marine Mammal Scientist-in-Training Program

–Registration for 2026 is now closed–

The Marine Mammal Scientist-in-Training Program is an immersive 1-week educational course designed for high school students that are excited to learn about how marine mammals are studied in the Monterey Bay. This class combines classroom instruction with field-based learning. Students will have the opportunity to meet and engage with world-leading marine mammal researchers and local science/environmental educators to build connections in the marine mammal and local communities.

Students will participate in a variety of activities that vary year to year, possibly including

• Observing the natural behavior of whales in Monterey Bay by boat to learn about how these massive animals interact with their environment,
• Seeing how research is conducted with trained animals at UCSC’s Long Marine Laboratory
• Hiking through Año Nuevo State Park to learn about the natural history of northern elephant seals
• Kayaking in Elkhorn Slough to observe the behavior of sea otters, harbor seals, and California sea lions.

Each field experience will be supported and enhanced by a near-college-level scientific curriculum of lectures and activities about the Monterey Bay ecosystems, with a focus on marine mammals. Marine education specialists will lead the course with direct involvement from leading marine mammal researchers from the University of California Santa Cruz.