GIVING BACK TO EDUCATION
Marine CSI has TWO opportunities for the community to give back in support of hands-on environmental and marine science education. Through its programs and educator training, we engage thousands of students a year, and that dedication takes time, money, supplies, and prep hours to accomplish. As a one-woman show, Kimberly Belfer, the founder and also Director of Education, makes small strides, but in partnership together, we can grow in leaps and bounds.
As an individual, you can donate directly to our new Spotfund Fundraiser to support STEM Education for Future Stewards. This fundraiser helps to offset costs for upgrading and replacing supplies, new program initiatives, and keeping our programs as green as possible for the future stewards of conservation we teach.
As a local business, you can sponsor either a program for one full grade, supply upgrades, educator workshop opportunities, or Oasis Watershed Center. A description of each is below.
To learn more about the programs we present through in-school field trips, access our program pages here: Watershed Walkabout Program and Partner Programs. The mission of these programs is to bring inexpensive, interactive, and inquiry-based lessons to schools in the southeastern region of North Carolina.
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
Level One - Program Sponsorship ($500):
Programs are offered during the traditional school year (September through May), for public schools, private schools, and homeschool co-ops. Programs are also available for Girl Scouts NC and camp groups throughout the year.
Your financial contribution covers the cost for one full grade, plus travel to and from schools from Onslow County south to Brunswick County and west to Bladen and Duplin Counties. Schools who are considered Title 1 will have first priority to your sponsorship, so that we may continue to reach as many underserved and underrepresented communities as possible.
You will receive a letter of recognition for your sponsorship, website logo publicity, and social media visibility thanking you for your contribution. We will further utilize our social media to share which school and grade is the recipient of your sponsorship.
Level Two - Workshop Sponsorship ($1000):
Educators are working both inside the classroom and outside in our amazing coastal ecosystems to show students ways they can conserve wildlife and learn how to be stewards of the environment for their future. Hands-on and in-person workshops are offered to both formal (school-based) teachers, as well as informal (nature-based) educators at various locations within our region. Throughout the year, we offer several opportunities to take advantage of educator time.
Your financial contribution covers the cost for 5 educators to attend one workshop, as well as supplies for the activities, and their own copies of Marine CSI's resource books to bring back to their school/facility. Teachers who work in Title 1 schools and informal educators working towards their NC Environmental Educator Certification will have first priority to your sponsorship, so that we may continue to reach as many underserved and underrepresented communities as possible.
You will receive a letter of recognition for your sponsorship, website logo publicity, and social media visibility thanking you for your contribution. We will further utilize our social media to share which workshop your sponsorship paid for.
Level Three - Workshop Location Sponsorship ($1500):
Educators come from all over the state (and sometimes out of state) to attend our workshops. We try to accommodate all our interested participants by finding locations to host workshops from Carteret County to New Hanover County. These locations often come with their own fees for space rental, and these fees can prevent us from working in the most ideal locations for both inside activities and outdoor exploration.
Your financial contribution covers the cost for up to 8 workshops throughout the year, including travel costs for our Director of Education to reach these locations. Our continued partnerships with these host sites ensures we remain as a high profile leader in marine science education.
You will receive a letter of recognition for your sponsorship, website logo publicity, and social media visibility thanking you for your contribution. We will further utilize our social media to share which workshop your sponsorship paid for.
Level Four - Program Supply Sponsorship ($2000):
Although Marine CSI chooses to reuse and recycle a good portion of its supplies per activity, kids can be rough and supplies need to be replaced over time. From crafting materials to more scientific apparatus, we strive to provide the very best for our programs. We utilize the most well-known suppliers, such as Carolina Biological, Flynn Scientific, and even Wild Republic and Safari Limited for stuffed animals and toys. We currently have a short-list of biofacts (biological replicas/artifacts) we want to include in our programs.
Your financial contribution covers the costs for program supplies and long-term use. This guarantees that what we bring on-site to schools, scouts, and camps is representative of our coastal ecosystems, without the added costs of maintaining and traveling with living organisms. Our continued partnerships with these suppliers ensures we remain as a high profile leader in marine science education.
You will receive a letter of recognition for your sponsorship, website logo publicity, and social media visibility thanking you for your contribution. We will further utilize our social media to share which activity or program your sponsorship paid for.
Level Five - Oasis Watershed Center Sponsorship ($5000+):
Marine CSI has been working in partnership with community leaders to develop an ecological center in the Southeast region of NC. Initial plans include an exhibit area featuring live animal and replica displays of the Cape Fear River Basin, classrooms for educational programs, greenhouse for farm-to-table demonstrations, trails leading to the river, and a communal event space for large-group programming. While we are still in the planning stages of this project, we hope to gather as much support from the community and beyond to make this happen.
Your financial contribution covers a portion of the costs not only to secure the property, but also to build this dream into a reality. This guarantees that we can fully support our growing population of environmental stewards for generations to come.
You will receive a letter of recognition for your sponsorship, website logo publicity, and social media visibility thanking you for your contribution. We will further utilize our social media to share which portion of our center your sponsorship paid for. We also have plans to procure plaques for our special sponsors once our eco-center is complete.
Marine CSI: Coastal Science Investigations has several ways to make your business sponsorship to us.
Checks can be made directly to: Marine CSI, 3808 River Front Pl., Unit 203, Wilmington, NC 28412.
For other options, please contact us at: education@teachmarinecsi.com.
