Dana Point

Inside the Outdoors® at Dana Point takes place at Dana Point Harbor. Excellent tidepools and unusual cliff formations provide ample learning opportunities for your students.

Curriculum enrichment for 4th and 6th grade:
California Science Content Standards Earth Sciences, Investigation and Experimentation
4th grade: 5a, 5c, 6a, 6c
6th grade: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 2a, 2d, 6c, 7g, 7h

The mystery of how tidepool animals survive stressful conditions is revealed as students study the tidepools, observing the plants, algae, and animals that have special characteristics. Students also learn about the local geological formations.

Geology
Students compare and contrast the two formations that surround the Dana Point Harbor and take part in activities that help them understand plate tectonics and classification of rocks and minerals.

Ocean Awareness
Students discuss and learn about the importance of the ocean and participate in hands-on activities at fourteen mini stations where they see, touch, and learn about things that come from the ocean. After visiting all of the stations, participate in a game in which they use their newly gained knowledge to solve a word puzzle.

Tidepools
Students learn about the environmental factors that affect tidepool organisms. They discover the adaptations of various organisms in the intertidal ecosystem using clue cards and pictures to find living things in the tidepools.