Isla Mar Celebrates a Decade of Ocean Learning in Puerto Rico

In Western Puerto Rico the ocean isn’t just something we look at; it’s part of our everyday life. For the past decade, Isla Mar has been helping kids, students, and community members experience it in a whole new way.

Isla Mar started with just two students who met on a field course in Puerto Rico in 2008. The organization itself didn’t launch until a few years later, in 2015, when Drs. Chelsea and Evan Tuohy came back to the island as grad students at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, and realized they shared a passion for teaching in the field. What began as small field courses they designed and ran themselves slowly and intentionally grew into something much bigger. 

Today, Isla Mar is both a full-on active scientific research group and nonprofit, with over 15 staff, a research vessel, a youth program, and a team of citizen scientists; all fueled by a deep love for the island of Puerto Rico and its oceans.

Isla Mar is all about hands-on learning. Instead of just reading about ecosystems in a classroom, students and community members get out into the field, exploring tide pools, mangroves, coral reefs, and forests to really experience how everything connects.

Youth Programs

Their youth programs are at the heart of what they do. They offer Island School Classes for kids and teens, with field trips and creative projects focused on marine life and island ecosystems. Their next sessions begin the week of April 13th. Full and partial scholarships as well as financial assistance through sibling discounts make it possible for more families to participate.

Island School in Your School: New Initiative

Bringing Isla Mar’s youth education program directly into local schools across western Puerto Rico, Island School in Your School lets students experience engaging, hands-on island and marine science within their classrooms.

Designed to complement school curricula, the program inspires curiosity and connection to island and ocean ecosystems. A bilingual, three-person team provides all materials and instruction. Schools just need a teacher or administrator to reach out. Costs are covered for public schools through donations, while private schools are offered a very reasonable per-student rate.

This initiative makes Isla Mar’s programs accessible to even more students in their daily learning environment.

Community Engagement

It’s not just for kids. Isla Mar hosts workshops, citizen science projects, and field experiences where anyone can get involved, learning about coral reefs, coastal ecosystems, and local wildlife while contributing to real conservation work.

Student Support

Local undergraduate and graduate students also benefit from mentorship, scholarships, and Isla Mar’s Seed Fund, which helps young scientists carry out field research and gain hands-on experience.

This year, Isla Mar is celebrating a decade of connecting the community to Puerto Rico’s ecosystems. The year-long celebration includes youth education workshops and field programs, community science and BioBlitz events, and student mentoring opportunities. There will also be special moments to recognize the donors and supporters who have made it all possible.

Each event reflects the breadth of Isla Mar’s work, from the youngest kids exploring tide pools to students leading research projects, showing how far the organization has come since 2015.

Ocean Science Lab: Mon, Apr 13 at Carta Buena Garden

Students ages 7–13 dive into experiments on salinity, ocean layers, coral chemistry, and water movement, all connected to the stunning marine world of Puerto Rico. Weekly afternoon session.

Earth Day BioBlitz Events: April 18 and19 

Explore reptiles, amphibians, and birds while contributing to an urban ecology survey of local native plants in an area highly impacted by development. This free, all-ages event invites the community to step into the role of naturalists and take part in real scientific data collection led by an expert.

Tidepools and Coral Reefs: Sun, May 31 at Tres Palmas Marine Reserve

Explore the tidepools of the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve and learn about coral reefs. Ages 7–12 can participate in this FREE event as part of DRNA’s Coral Reef Week.

Marine Science Summer Camp: June 1–4 (Ages 5–9) and June 8–11 (Ages 10–14) at Carta Buena Garden

The community has been asking for this, and now here it is! Kids will discover coastal ecosystems, from beach ecology and coral reefs to reef fish and field science techniques.
Registration: Apr 20–24, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM

Check islamar.org/events for the full schedule and registration.

As Isla Mar celebrates its 10th anniversary, they’re looking to the community to help sustain their work through the end of the year. Funding for the first half of 2026 is secured, but support is still needed for operational costs from July through December.

Corporate sponsorships are a way to support Isla Mar while making a positive impact in the community. Tiered sponsorship packages offer benefits like branded recognition and employee engagement opportunities.

Contact: outreach@islamar.org

Every contribution helps fund programs, scholarships, and youth initiatives that connect local kids and students to Puerto Rico’s coastal and island ecosystems.

https://givebutter.com/islamar

https://givebutter.com/islamaryouth

https://givebutter.com/islamarsponsor

https://givebutter.com/islamarseedfund

https://tinyurl.com/cryptoDAF

www.islamar.org/donate

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• Facebook: @islamarpr
• Website: www.islamar.org

Supporting Isla Mar keeps hands-on science, exploration, and environmental learning alive, helping the next generation grow up connected to the ocean and nature they love.

Support Isla Mar while growing your business

During April, May, and June, we’ll donate 50% of all profits to Isla Mar from new Local Business Guide listings and renewals (6-month and 1-year), as well as all advertising packages.