New Guy Harvey Program Boosts Marine Biology Education in Florida

The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation has received a $99,500 grant from The St. Joe Community Foundation to fund professional training for teachers in Bay County in the Florida Panhandle that allows more than 7,500 students in Bay County to benefit from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation educational curriculum.

Additional grants for $96,175 and $123,750, just approved by The St. Joe Community Foundation in September, will allow the program to launch in Walton County, also in Florida’s Panhandle, and continue to grow in Bay County.

With this sizable grant from The St. Joe Community Foundation, 148 Bay County elementary and middle school teachers were able to participate in a free professional development program hosted by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

The professional development workshops kicked off in October 2021 and ran through 2022. As part of the workshops, teachers received interactive hands-on training in the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) curriculum. The teachers, in turn, take what they learned back to their classrooms, along with scientific equipment and educational materials provided by the Foundation, and guide their students through lessons related to marine ecosystems, conservation and art.

“Our teachers are so excited to have the opportunity to share this curriculum with their students,” said Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt. “These tools will help students better understand and appreciate our proximity to water and the creatures who live there.”

(L to R): Former Senator Bill Montford; Manatee County School Board Chairwoman Pamm Chapman; Bay District Schools teacher Erin Brack; Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Co-Chair Steve Roden; St. Joe Community Foundation COO April Wilkes; and Bay District Schools Superintendent Bill Husfelt

The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation curriculum is built on the videos, articles and papers from Dr. Harvey that cover decades of scientific research. The GHOF works to make marine and environmental science more engaging through virtual fields trips that include diving with sharks, witnessing sea turtles nesting, and examining the impacts of pollution, climate change and overfishing on the marine world.

“At the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, we are committed to education and that’s why we were so excited to roll out our curriculum throughout Florida and beyond,” said Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation’s Co-Chair Jessica Harvey. “It is critically important to inform, educate and engage young students on the importance of preserving our oceans and marine life. Through the educational initiatives we’ve launched, students learn about the world’s environment and wildlife. They come away with a better understanding of how they can help us in preserving our ecosystems for future generations.”

“The St. Joe Community Foundation aims to support local non-profits that work to make life better in their communities by focusing on education, environmental stewardship, cultural arts, and building healthy communities,” said The St. Joe Community Foundation’s Executive Director April Wilkes. “The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation touches on many of our key pillars, and we’re proud to be a part of the good work they do here in Northwest Florida.”

Local non-profits can apply for grants through The St. Joe Community Foundation. Learn more at www.JoeFoundation.com