People

Middle School Science MCPS MD

Charissa V. Jones (she/her/hers) is the Outreach and Inclusion Coordinator for the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service Outdoor School Program and a third-year doctoral student at Oregon State University in the College of Education’s STEM Education program. She is a cultural and community connector with over 15 years of experience in outdoor and environmental education. Originally from Suriname, South America, she is interested in (re)connecting folks to their environments by exploring the intersections of EDIJA (equity, diversity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility), and environmental and outdoor education with a particular interest in exploring how culture filters community sense-making around “environment/outdoor/nature-based” and learning.

4th-year doctoral candidate in the Department of Disability and Psychoeducational Studies (DPS) at the U of A. My research explores the advancements of increased accessibility, program inclusion, and equitable practices within EE educational opportunities for historically marginalized communities.

Water Resources Education Specialist for Spokane County specializing in Wastewater Reclamation education and outdoor education related to Water Resources, K-12. 

Ajay is an award-winning ocean-climate communicator with a resolute interest in the intersection of marine conservation and climate change. He is passionate about translating ocean science into solutions-driven models to make accurate information more accessible.

Ajay's dedication to this cause is exemplified through his work with organisations such as World Ocean Day, The Ocean Foundation, The Ocean Project, the National Geographic Society, and The Nature Conservancy. Besides this, Ajay is also an awardee of the Make an Impact Fellowship, the 2023 GEEP Youth Innovation Prize for Marine Debris and Conservation, and a National Geographic grant.

In 2007, the Puget Sound Estuarium was founded by the South Sound Estuary Association (SSEA) as a result of community interest in creating opportunities for the public to learn about estuaries, geology, natural and cultural history, marine life, and human impact on the Puget Sound. 

The Estuarium’s mission is to foster learning opportunities that inspire people of all ages to connect with, protect, and enjoy the unique estuary environment of Puget Sound. Our motto is to: “Explore • Connect • Inspire!” Our vision is to create an educated community that is engaged and inspired to promote the health, conservation, and restoration of Puget Sound. We rely on more than 120 community volunteers and over 30 partner organizations, and the Estuarium primarily serves all of Thurston County (pop. 280,289 -US Census), as well as Pierce and Mason Counties (pop. 956,806 - US Census).

We encourage community members to EXPLORE animals and plants in their local estuaries, where freshwater and saltwater meet. We CONNECT people of all ages to what is unique about this delicate, vibrant ecosystem. Our educational opportunities INSPIRE individuals to take better care of our shared natural resources.  

Programs

• Puget Sound Estuarium – a marine life discovery center, with salt and fresh water aquariums, interactive learning, permanent and rotating exhibits

• Meet the Beach – on the beach interpretation by community volunteers showcasing intertidal life, offered at local beaches during summer low tides

• Pier Peer – an exciting event at Boston Harbor Marina and multiple locations in Mason County, featuring night time underwater viewing of marine life and critter identification 

• K-12 Education Programs – incorporates Estuarium, Meet the Beach, and On the Water components and field trips to connect our youth with Puget Sound, marine environments, and estuaries

• Online Education – uses social media, our website to provide online estuary education videos and live feedings of our animals to South Sound community members

• Tiny Tides Story Time – this program began in 2020, as an online video series features Estuarium volunteers reading environmental children’s books for pre K-2nd graders. Currently, we perform this program in person at the Estuarium facility, where we include an educational session with the animals in our mobile touch tank

• Virtual Discovery Speaker Series – using Zoom Webinars and live streamed on our website and social media, experts present a variety of estuary and marine topics during autumn and winter

• Connecting the Community – includes educational booths and presentations at local events, festivals/fairs, and service groups/clubs

• Sea Stroll – Estuarium educators lead tours of the historical Olympia shoreline, illustrating the landform changes over time from both geologic processes and human impacts (spring-fall)

• Bird Walk – Estuarium educators lead birding tours to teach participants about local bird populations, identification skills, bird ecology and human impacts including the effects of climate change, on local bird species (spring-fall)

 

 

Ada Takacs retired after 35 years in conseration with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. She was the Michigan Project Learning Tree Coordinator for nearly two decades and served on Incident Management Teams across the United States. She continues to serve her community in retirement through volunteerism.