Although I'm not much for trends, Spotify did us all a favor this year, giving us a way to literally "wrap" up the year and bring attention to what we've accomplished (or in their case listened to). It is not my intention to get onto any bandwagons, because I'm literally the opposite of trendy or popular, but here it goes.

Marine CSI: Coastal Science Investigations has been in business since 2014, with the introduction of large books of marine science lessons for teachers. In 2018, it was officially incorporated as a business in Wilmington, NC, where the main focus has been public school education of hands-on marine science activities. While I had the opportunity to bring live terrapins into the classroom in NJ, through a partnership with Project Terrapin, that opportunity is no longer available here, so no live animals come with me to schools.

I am a one-woman show, presenting several one-hour long activities a day to any school willing to spend the money to bring me into their classrooms. I've expanded to six different counties in Southeast NC, covering two watersheds with primarily K-8th programs. This was not without its issues, including being unrecognizable and a case of mistaken identity, not enough funding available, not enough time with testing schedules, misunderstandings of how I teach, natural disasters, and of course, the inability to go virtual during COVID lockdown.

Here we are in year seven of a business that has struggled through a lot and keeps on going. This year has caused a lot of stress and a lot of worry, with government shutdowns, lack of funds, and a state budget that was never passed. Yet, I still managed to do something right and build on the main program I originally envisioned. Expansion and funding were the key focuses this year, but it was touch and go through the summer and fall.

Within those six counties, I visited 16 schools with 45 programs, expanding to both Duplin and Bladen counties this spring. Within those schools, I educated 1,891 students, only about a hundred shy of last year's numbers. To break it down further: 4 schools in New Hanover County (including one homeschool co-op), 1 school in Brunswick County, 5 schools in Pender County, 4 schools in Onslow County, and 1 school in Duplin and Bladen Counties each.

I didn't stop there, though. During the summer, when schools are out for break, I visited 2 different summer camps with 25 programs, educating 461 campers. Through a brand new partnership with Pender County Parks, I ran 7 Watershed EdVentures programs with a total of 30 homeschool kids, and 3 Across Generations programs with a total of 9 participants.

In the spring, I participated in Onslow County's Earth Day Festival at their Sturgeon City Environmental Education center, and in the fall, I was at the Aquarium of Fort Fisher's Femme in STEM event. I had a total of 255 people come and interact with my table activities at those two events.

Every quarter, I ran several educator workshops, highlighting some of the fun and engaging activities I normally bring to the classroom. 9 educators came to 7 different workshops at Western Park in Carteret County, Center of Marine Science in Wilmington, and Hanover Pines Nature Park in Wilmington.

As difficult and challenging as this year was, Marine CSI was still successful in bringing empowering, engaging, and exceptional learning experiences to all ages. I have high hopes to turn the corner, get us out of the debt I accumulated creating new activities, and establish a stronghold in the southeast community. As a new member of the Greater Topsail Chamber of Commerce, and with communications already with county commissioners and Superintendent Dr. Breedlove, I have no doubt that this little business will achieve the vision of building an eco-center as an epicenter of environmental and marine education in the region.