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Jimmy Panetta
04/03/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/03/2024 11:06
Rep. Panetta Joins Local Students on the O’Neill Sea Odyssey, Discusses Efforts to Keep Mile Buoy
Santa Cruz, CA - United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined local students participating in a hands-on science and environmental experience of the O'Neill Sea Odyssey. The students are learning about nautical skills, local history, and our responsibility to protect our oceans and preserve our coastal community. O'Neil Sea Odyssey was an active participant in the united community effort to keep the historic Mile Buoy in place, as an important educational marker for students.
Each year, the O'Neill Sea Odyssey takes thousands of the region's elementary school students out to sail on Monterey Bay. As part of our curriculum, the nonprofit utilizes the Mile Buoy, a fixture in Santa Cruz Harbor for more than a century, to teach mathematics and navigation. Rep. Panetta spoke with students about the importance of landmarks like the Mile Buoy to the character of our community and the safety of boaters of all skill levels operating in Santa Cruz Harbor.
"Santa Cruz has a long and strong connection to our ocean and our amazing Monterey Bay ecosystem," said Rep. Panetta. "I'm proud to support and highlight the work of the O'Neill Sea Odyssey to educate our children about our community's history and the responsibilities of preserving our oceans for future generations. By providing students with a hands-on experience of navigating our waters, the O'Neill Sea Odyssey also affords them a greater appreciation for our role as good stewards of the environment. It was a pleasure to join the O'Neill Sea Odyssey and their students to talk about our community's participation in the process to preserve the landmark Mile Buoy and the perpetuation of our collective responsibility to protect the beauty and bounty of our Monterey Bay."
"The Mile Buoy is a critical part of the Santa Cruz landscape, it keeps those that enjoy the ocean by kayak or stand-up paddle board safe, and it will continue to serve as a focus of the instruction provided the instructors at the O'Neill Sea Odyssey," said Tracey Weiss, Executive Director at O'Neill Sea Odyssey. "We are glad that it will remain a constant part of our maritime environment."
The O'Neill Sea Odyssey is an educational nonprofit that engages 4th - 6th grade youth with learning opportunities aboard a 65-foot catamaran sailing Monterey Bay and, in our shore-side education center. The program is free of charge and works to create a new generation of ocean-literate youth who are connected to and engaged with our coastal ecosystem. Over 50% of the students who attend annually have never been in a boat out on the bay.
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