Water World is Centrum’s week of marine science and art, produced in collaboration with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, here at Fort Worden. Our goal with the workshop is a week filled with activities and projects that expand and enhance elementary students’ experience of the marine world through the lenses of both science and art.

Our 2015 workshop, held April 19-24, saw some of the sunniest and some of the windiest weather in its 20-year history!

• View photos from the 2015 workshop

All of the students in the program this year were from Central and Eastern Washington – and they were quite hearty! Wind and rain did not daunt them as they explored the beaches and collected samples from the Port Townsend Marine Science Center dock. Luckily, there were some beautiful sunny moments as well, for sketching in journals, writing, and painting outside.

As part of our evaluation process, we collect impressions from the students about their experience. Here is some of what they shared with us:

“Learning! I learned SO much! And in school, we are studying Marine Mammals, so I’ve got some facts to share.”

“I loved learning about how to use all our senses to add detail to our writing and drawings. “

“Bunkers – The Bunkers were scary and fun to explore and “haunted”. It was very old.”

“The Hike. Awfully wet, but fun.”

“Hike – I liked the hike because I like exploring and I saw lots of different and new creatures.”

“I want to be a professional photographer, so I got to take so many beautiful pictures.”

“I enjoyed the touch tanks and learning about invertibrats.[invertebrates]”

This program is generously funded by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Additional sponsors include the Washington State Arts Commission, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, The Baker Foundation, ecotrust, The Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, The Forest Foundation, Rayonier Foundation, the Congdon Hanson Family, and nearly a thousand individual donors whose generosity celebrates the power of creativity to change lives.