Creep into the Deep with WhaleTimes

Creep into the Deep creates a connection between scientists and students and lets you bring deep-sea animals, exploration, and *science into your classrooms in a unique and inviting way. By participating in the program, your students become Virtual members of a deep sea mission and even send their autographs into the abyss! *STEM topics are brought to life with deep sea explorations

The deep? Why? Deep-sea scientists lead exciting and often daring lives in order to study the animals and environment they love. However, devastating changes in water pressure, temperature, and light, make diving to the deep more dangerous than rocketing to space. Plus, astronauts rarely worry about predators — three times larger than their vessel — looking for that “crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside” snack! squid at 417 m depth

What’s in the deep that’s worth risking one’s life? Animals dressed in red velvet, some as transparent as glass, and others that flash and ripple with light so bright it hurts your eyes. From glow-in-the-dark poop to hagfish oozing buckets of slime, every animal and discover in the deep is weirder and more wonderful than the next.

Take your science deeper by enrolling in WhaleTimes Creep into the Deep program!

We are proud to announce that we’ll be following deep-sea exploration cruises with the: Hawai‘i Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) at SOEST/University of Hawai‘i

K-12th grade Students, teachers...schools,

You are invited to become virtual members of a deep-sea research team through WhaleTimes newest program Creep into the Deep created in cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Students become virtual members of a deep-sea research mission by:

w Signing the Creep into the Deep poster (which is then sent to the scientist)

w Following their signatures into the deep

w Tracking ocean exploration on-line through logs, Postcards from the Deep^™, and e-mails from the scientists while they're at sea

w Discovering more about the ocean through inquiry-based curriculum

After the mission, the scientist certifies the signatures made it to the deep by autographing the poster and noting the date, depth, and dive location. Posters are returned to participating schools to display proudly.

Plus, schools can show their commitment to science education by earning an “Ocean Literate School” certificate utilizing WhaleTimes’ Taking Science Deeper^™ (K-6 grade) curriculum or NOAA-OE's Learning Ocean Science Through Ocean Exploration (6-12^th grade) curriculum.

**Available MISSIONS (Cruise dates are subject to change.):

Nov 23-Dec 06, 2009

   *Northwestern Hawaiian Islands,
   Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument
        (and off Ni‘ihau, "the Forbidden Island" in the main Hawaiian Islands)
Registration deadline: CLOSED
(Poster signed by students must be received by 11-13-09)

The Missions:
s Megafauna of Deep Seamounts and Ridges in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument: Year 2 (NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries)

s Acoustic Tracking of Bottomfish in and around a Restricted Fishing Area (RFA) off Ni`ihua (NOAA Fisheries - Pacific Regional Office)

The science team is back and it was a HUGE success. Thank you Dr. John Smith , Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, NOAA and all the extraordinary researchers on the cruise for answering our questions and sharing your deep sea cruise with our students! ()

Missed the cruise? Click here to meet the scientists, read their Seamails™ and more!

January 11-17, 2010


**Au‘au Channel (between Maui and Molokai, Hawai'i)

The science team is back and it was a HUGE success. Thank you Dr. Frank Parrish, NOAA, the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory, and all the extraordinary researchers on the cruise for answering our questions and sharing your deep sea cruise with our students!

Missed the cruise? Click here to meet the scientists, read their Seamails™ and more!

MORE TO COME in 2010
We'll post the cruises as soon as we know. Email us to be added to the Creep into the Deep mailing list for 2010.

NOTES:

Cruises and dates are subject.

Though some missions might be in the same location, each has different research goals and science teams.

Detailed information is provided after enrollment.

What if available cruises don’t fit my schedule? Though we encourage classes to follow the research cruise while it’s happening, we understand schools have schedules or curriculum requirements that are not always flexible. No problem. Have your students sign the poster and send it to us. We'll return it after the cruise, signed by the scientist. The logs and other information from the research cruise be available on-line when your schedule allows you to incorporate it into the classroom.

Teachers, CLICK HERE TO ENROLL:

Fees: chimaera

In order to offer this program we must charge a small donation fee which covers printing and postage costs. WhaleTimes staff and participating scientists are (happily) volunteering their time and energy to make the program possible. Not only are your donations appreciated, they are tax deductible. Thank you.

*Minimum Donation: $25 (includes poster and shipping/handling to schools and scientist.)
Additional posters: $8 each. (No postage fee if poster requested with original registration.)

Enroll today, space is limited

WhaleTimes is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity.

*Additional fees outside United States

Questions? Contact creepintothedeep@whaletimes.org