Healthy Habitats and Oceans (H2O) Program

h2o bus

CMA focuses on the journey from the aquifer to the ocean, connecting the water, animals and humans that rely on healthy coastal resources and habitat.

As one of the leading coastal conservation organizations in the USA, CMA holds first-hand knowledge of the damage that marine debris causes to marine species’ populations. A component of our organization’s mission, which promotes the conservation of endangered marine animals to gain protections for larger coastal regions, involves rescuing individual animals from marine debris entanglements during our research efforts. These efforts are often in vain, as many of these entanglements lead to mortality. As a major focus of our work is endangered species protection, our team is seeking to prevent these losses, which are unsustainable for the recovery of these imperiled species.

CMA is now running a marine debris educational program, Healthy Habitats and Oceans (H²O), with a specific focus on how endangered marine species are impacted by this pervasive threat. We hope to draw attention to the increasing threat of marine debris by outreaching to citizens, and youth in particular, throughout the state of Florida. CMA has acquired a 27’ bus that is used as a mobile learning unit to visit elementary through high schools and attend community festivals along the east and west coasts of Florida and Georgia. Our team presents educational programs instructing these audiences on preventing land-based litter and derelict fishing gear from reaching the ocean. Visits to schools are supplemented with an optional beach-clean up in the following weeks to cement lessons learned while on our educational vehicle.

h2o marine debris exhibit

Educating the public to promotes awareness

CMA’s past experiences in educating the public on marine issues lead us to the conclusion that often people are simply unaware that their actions affect conservation. Once a citizen is informed and aware, they often implement changes for the betterment of the environment. CMA is expecting broad-based benefits to the marine system along the Gulf Coast and the Atlantic Coast from Georgia to Florida through a reduction in beach/boat littering and discarded fishing gear. In addition to the coastal system, this program will enrich participating students by infusing them with a sense of community and purpose. Furthermore, festival participants benefit through the understanding that they are able to become actively involved in conservation efforts through simple behavioral change.

H2O On The Go Pricing Information

H2O On the Go Pricing Information

Thank you for your interest in helping to clean up the seas. H2O On the Go can accommodate up to 15 students at a time and is geared for children ages 10 and up as well as the general public (presentations can be tailored per age group).

We are currently open to reservations for visits. Please fill out the form below to set up a reservation.

For Educational Institutions:

Groups must book for a minimum of 60 students and a maximum of 180 students per day.
Based on the 15-person capacity and the number of students participating, presentation time will vary from 20 to 45 minutes on-board the bus with a maximum visit of 6 hours.
Students will be asked to fill out a pre-visit survey to measure their marine debris knowledge. Teachers can administer this test the week prior to a visit, or the day of, preferably as a supervised assignment.
After leaving the bus, students will be given a similar post-visit survey to fill out, which can be administered by our staff in the classroom (time permitting), or by teachers who are willing to administer the test during their regular class time. We ask that all surveys are mailed, or scanned and emailed to our H2O coordinator, Paul Davis, at most three weeks after the visit date. For the mailing address please reach out to Paul via email at: [email protected]

Prices:

$8.00 per person, not including two supervisors/teachers per school in the Lake Worth area (<20 miles from zip code 33463)

For school visits more than 20 miles from Lake Worth, FL (33463), an additional fuel surcharge will be added to the rental fee ($30.00/50 miles traveled).

For Festivals/Outreach Events:

Outreach events include outreach events, environmental and music festivals, tournaments, races and short, informal school visits.
The H2O on the Go mobile classroom will be set up for self-guided tours.
We typically set up a tent and exhibit table outside the bus to engage visitors and encourage them to visit the bus.
An ideal location for the bus for outreach events is within 100 feet of a 110 V AC outlet so electricity can be provided to cool the bus without running the engine.

Prices For Festivals/Outreach Events

The minimum daily charge (up to 8 hours) for festivals and outreach events is $300.00 for anything within 20 miles of Lake Worth, FL (33463).
For events outside of the 20-mile radius, an additional fuel surcharge of $30.00 for every 50 miles will be applied.
No deposit is required, however, a $75.00 fee will be charged if less than 2 weeks notice is given for any cancellation.

Here is a depiction of 20 miles around H2O’s home base in zip code 33463.

Minimizing Environmental Impact

High-efficiency diesel engine: The bus is supported by a Chevy Goshen high-efficiency diesel engine that utilizes advanced electronic controls to optimize the engine’s operation and performance, in addition to being “biodiesel capable.”
“Shore power” capacity: Minimizes the need to use the vehicle engine or generator by allowing the ability to plug the mobile lab into a school’s power supply.
Up-cycled materials: Aside from the outstanding fact that this bus was salvaged from a church looking to upgrade their transportation vehicles, all exhibit panels were printed on reclaimed aluminum signs. The interior structures were built using parts originally used in the shuttle bus such as a cargo rack which was reused to make a panel support, and floor lighting that was transformed into overhead exhibit illumination.
Sustainable climate control: The bus features a portable, environmentally-friendly air conditioner to avoid the need to run the diesel engine for air conditioning in hot summer months and heat during winter months.

H2O Reservation Request

Marine Debris Facts

Marine debris is defined as any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes.
80% of marine litter is land-based while an estimated 20% is ocean-based.
Debris threatens ALL species of marine life.
ENTANGLEMENT affects over 200 marine species worldwide.
Sea turtles, marine mammals, fish, and seabirds often mistake marine debris for food.
INGESTION can lead to malnutrition and starvation as debris collects in the stomach and causes animals to feel full. It can also prevent proper nutrient absorption.
Some marine plastics are made of toxic chemicals that can cause reproductive issues and death when ingested.
Ecosystems can be smothered by ghost nets, plastic bags, and derelict fishing gear, permanently altering the environment.
Marine debris can contribute to the migration of invasive species through “rafting.”

Some of the Marine Debris We’ve Collected Since July 2015!

17280 cigarettes/filters
9941 macroplastics
5406 microplastics
5107 food wrappers
3806 plastic cap rings
2555 straws/stirrers
1819 plastic bottles
1688 forks/knives
1629 fishing line
1536 plastic bags
1406 aluminum drink cans
1312 foam food containers
840 glass bottles
560 balloons/strings
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78 condoms
58 syringes
36 diapers