KIMBERLY SULLIVAN, aquatic resource education coordinator for the R.I. Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Fish & Wildlife, received the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association’s Environmental Education Award during the association’s annual event at Rhode Island College on Jan. 19. Last year, Sullivan helped expand opportunities for youths and families from Central Falls to learn how to fish and helped participants learn about aquatic species and reinforce conservation stewardship.
What initially drew you to wanting to teach aquaculture to children? My first position with [DEM’s] Division of Fish & Wildlife was as a hatchery supervisor at our Lafayette Trout Hatchery and was assigned to handle the hatchery tours. I enjoyed talking about the hatchery and seeing the awe and wonder on the participants’ faces, both young and old.
When I applied for the aquatic resource education coordinator position, I continued giving tours at the hatchery and then established the “Salmon in the Classroom,” [in which] students had a hands-on opportunity to raise fish in the classroom. By incorporating aquaculture into the Aquatic Resource Education program, it exposes students to potential future food sources, as well as potential career choices.
Describe the “Come Clam with Me” classes that you established last year. The ARE program actually acquired the Come Clam with Me [classes] five years ago from the R.I. Sea Grant and [University of Rhode Island’s] Coastal Resource Center. The original Come Clam with Me was developed as an outreach component for the R.I. Shellfish Management Plan and the program consisted of four classes per year. The ARE program adopted the [classes] as a way to educate both young and old about Rhode Island’s marine waters. The ARE program hires experienced quahogger Jody King to teach participants about the importance of clams to the bay, how to rake for them and how to safely handle the shellfish. Throughout the workshop, participants learn about other marine organisms that live in the bay and the modern technology that helps keep the bay clean. At the end, participants are given a folder full of information, including safe shellfish handling, clam recipes and shellfish management closure information. The [classes] will continue [in] the summer.
Do the concerns about climate change put more of an emphasis for children to learn about marine life? I’m not sure if concerns about climate change put an exact emphasis on children learning specifically about marine life. However, by children becoming engaged in learning about marine life, it sparks a natural curiosity to learn more about the marine ecosystem and a desire to preserve it. By exposing children to their natural world, I hope to create environmental stewards who will then want to tackle the challenges of climate change and create solutions.
Are you working on any new learning programs? The ARE program is currently developing a Fishing in Schools program and a Jellyfish in the Classroom program.
