Carpinteria Unified Student Scientists Study Sea Critters Aboard ‘Stardust’

When a 4th-grader holds a sheep crab, the largest crab on the California coast, the crab’s legs look to be about half their height. 

Students from Summerland Elementary School and Carpinteria Family School showed little to no fear when they did just that last Thursday in the Santa Barbara Harbor. 

The student scientists were beaming as they engaged in multiple hands-on activities as part of the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum’s (SBMM) marine science excursions. 

The group of 4th- and 5th-graders boarded the Stardust — owned by Jason and Jaime Diamond — bright and early, ready for a day of studying sea critters, looking at microscopic samples of plankton, and taking ocean measurements.

“The crew and I appreciate this even more than the kids,” said Stardust captain Sal Silva. “We love helping the kids learn. It’s way better than just looking at a picture of a lobster in a textbook — here, kids can actually hold one.” 

Now in its 10th year, the Maritime Museum’s two-hour educational excursions offer interactive marine science lessons to hundreds of Santa Barbara County kids every season. 

Usually, students explore the Santa Barbara Channel and go trawling, discuss science and navigation, observe wildlife, launch a remotely operated vehicle, and work in teams to learn more about coastal California. 

However, due to windy conditions, the Stardust stayed dockside on Thursday. But that didn’t hamper the kids’ fun. Many of them had never been on a boat before — let alone held a giant sheep crab, lobsters, and sea stars while learning about their diets and behaviors.

“This is my friend. His name is Starfish,” said one student as she held a giant purple sea star. While she got to know her new friend, UC Santa Barbara graduate student Dana Myers explained how sea stars eat. (It’s kind of gross; did you know they have mouths?)

At another station, marine biologist Holly Lohuis taught her group how to study the ocean using a variety of unique tools. 

“What’s the first thing Mom or Dad does when you’re sick?” she asked. “Take your temperature! Oceanographers take the temperature of the ocean.” 

Whenever the students successfully completed a task or answered a question, she’d give them a thumbs-up, saying “Good job, oceanographers!”  

Inside the boat, students crowded around a microscope looking at samples of plankton, or the teeny-tiny marine algae that live in the ocean’s sunlight zone. Some of the kids still had mud on their faces, applied like eye black on a football player, from the “mud grab” data station. 

After studying multiple samples of different microscopic critters, the kids asked to set one of the plankton free. Their wish was granted, and they rushed to the side of the boat to dump it back into the water and say their goodbyes. 

“We tell the kids that they are scientists for the day,” said SBMM Communications Director Heather Behrens. “Most of them haven’t experienced anything like this before.”

Even though the boat didn’t depart the dock, the students were undoubtedly inspired by their experiences. The goal is to increase their understanding of data collection, marine species, ocean zones, marine-related professions in Santa Barbara, and the productivity of the Santa Barbara Channel, while helping them feel more connected to the ocean and more motivated to be a part of a sustainable future.

“The Marine Science Education Program seeks to instill in students a love of the ocean,” the museum says, “and shows how care and respect for our Santa Barbara Channel is important for everyone’s future.”

Learn more about the museum’s programs here.