Calling all young change-makers!

Sea the Reef is an after-school youth program with an emphasis on marine science connection via art, technology and ocean science. A series of marine-ecology lessons and coral-sculpting workshops, turning youth into environmental artists. 

Soil to Sea Via Art, Urban Farming & Science 

Students will cast silicone molds of different coral specimens, create artist statements and design 3D-printed corals. Resulting in a public art installation model of coral reef to share with the community. 

• A graduation ceremony will invite the public to visit the space and celebrate the efforts of our teen environmental artists.
• Teen participants are all awarded explorer tools, outdoor gear and invited to use design studio equipment towards building their own art portfolio. 

STUDENT APPLICATION

CALENDAR

PROGRAM FLIER

Designed to converge art, science, and technology in an accessible way. In addition to providing resources for our educator networks to support art-making, climate justice, and community-building. 

Sign up today!

Thanks to 4PT Tiny Fellowship we were able to take our pop up art lab on the road! Learners became young artists, developed as positive change-makers, and found their personal connection to the blue planet.

We could not have done it without the support of the 4PT community. Thank you to all the educators who shared their learning spaces with us! 

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Mobile Push Powered Art Lab

△ pop out tables, custom handle bar made out of wood
△ counter flip top and easy to roll

A mobile street art cart designed to be a traveling art lab. Created from scratch and up-cycled parts. It’s push-powered, earth friendly and with plenty of storage. Most importantly made with zero plastic. It has two built-in collapsible tables and an open countertop for storage. 

We reached out to our beloved community and magic happened. Check out our creative adventures, pilot video.

Special thank you to my coach, Alex. Leading an amazing learning center for the DC community. In conjunction, to the awesome insights offered by Justin, who introduced the logic model template, that furthered my vision. 

I'm happy to now be a 4.0 alum and join their community of nearly 2,000+ alumni. I'm excited about what's next. 

 Thank you to all the educators who shared their learning spaces with us! 

Hi! Bienvenido! I'm happy you are here. I'm a National Geographic Certified Educator, mom to a kid explorer, into social impact & sustainability. I'm a big believer in art for all ages and the creator of this space.

I live in South FL with my husband, son and Flea (our scruffy little rescue dog). We put down some roots in the sunshine state and love our tropical cabin lifestyle. Sunday mornings are spent under the shade of our coconut trees.

Navigating the curious world of a young learner is never easy, learning is either confined to a screen or inside a classroom. I envisioned something different for my son, using the power of science, exploration, education and art.  

I started this space to help empower learners of all types to become citizen scientists and explorers. Here, we use art as a language of exploration and learn to care for the environment. 

I've designed an arts based environmental curriculum that invites learners on a journey to discover Florida’s impressive backyard: The Everglades, Mangroves, and beaches. Think of us as a nature center meets art studio, where learners become primed as environmental leaders of the future.

When I teach my goal is for all kids to have fun, experiment, feel courageous, and learn. We use basic art supplies — from paint, upcycled paper, found objects and glue to household finds like cardboard boxes, newspaper and fabric scraps. 

I like to volunteer on environmental projects close to home and enjoy being outdoors. Supporting my favorite local non-profits is important and a big reason why I dedicate a special workshop for donation. I'm part of a community of innovative educators raising the next generation of ocean advocates. 

I’m honored that you’ve stopped by! I invite you to follow along by signing up for our newsletter, here!

Ever seen those cool-looking rainbow clouds? If you live in South Florida, you probably have. The crystal like colors beaming from behind the puffy white clouds is incredible. It's like watching cotton candy hues spread across the sky. 

I recently learned it is called, cloud iridescence. According to NOAA colors come through the layers of thin clouds and since they are charged with water droplets, the sun's ray give it that rainbow color.

We hope to learn more about the science behind it, but for now we wanted to recreate it with watercolor magic. Give it a try, you will be surprised by how much your little one will enjoy it!

Colorful Cloud Art

Time: 20 minutes Ages: Toddlers + Difficulty: Easy 

Supply List

• Mat Board (best to work with cardstock)
• Water Colors (using food coloring can do the trick)
• Paint brush
• Small piece of a tree branch/stick
• Glue
• Eye Dropper
• Stick
• Cotton balls
• Twine ( we used twisted rope found from our beach clean up work)

Step 1:

Set up a couple of jars with different water colors. Can always choose the intensity of the color you want by adding couple more drops. Place the eye dropper close by and have child practice using it.

Step 2:

Bring out the cotton balls and glue. Start to glue the cotton balls to the mat board. Have child take the eye dropper, select a color and ask them to color each of the cotton balls, drop by drop. Definitely a great fine motor skills activity. 

Step 3:

Set aside the board with the cotton balls and begin to paint your stick. Remember to add a couple of coats, that helps for the color to be brighter. Use temperas or acrylics, either one is fine. 

Step 4:

Cut out the cloud form, punch a hole through the top and run twine through it and tie it to the colorful branch. 

It's the perfect cloud to hang on your door.

PROMPTS TO HELP YOU FURTHER ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITY:

• Tell me about your cloud. What makes it so special?
• I can't wait for it to rain and have a look at the clouds.
• What colors did you use? Can you find these same colors in nature?

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers". 

When Save the Manatee Club put out a call for manatee inspired art, I knew we had to participate. What made it an even better challenge was the fact the materials had to be "found objects." 

There was not much planning involved as far as materials since all we had to do was sort through the plastic we had picked up on our beach walk. We then prep it. Washed, scrubbed and rinsed.

Our little artist was excited to search through the many bottle caps to find the right one to use. I figured from all the random pieces we had, some sort of theme would come up. The best hidden piece from our two pound trash bag was a piece of standard barricade tape. It was long enough to read the letters CAU, short for the word "CAUTION." 

Here is our piece, we were super excited when we got done and we placed 2nd in the overall contest! 

We hope this will be the start of many more marine debris projects. Hopefully, you can find ways to get creative with recycled goods. Sharing couple of shots from our project below, thanks for reading!

Setting out our pieces, construction paper, rough outline, and a good amount of glue.

Always a plus when you let kids discover. They often gravitate to colors they themselves recognize in nature.

Marine Debris from North Ocean Park, FL.

You'd be surprised by the #processart fun that comes from #upcycling.

 Learn more about The Save the Manatee Club  

There is no better time to engage and inspire ocean advocates than childhood. Start out by creating under the sea sensory bin. It's an easy set up, recreating sea foam and having young ones search for shells and more.

Ocean Sensory Bin 

Supplies

• Long container (any size will do)
• Shells – we collected our from the beach
• A scoop, tea strainers and sponge 
• Shaving cream
• Liquid water color (food coloring works as well)

Add sand, water beads, and other ocean-themed objects. We kept it simple and used what we found at the beach. 

Through the use of seashells, plant life, and ocean animals, children can learn to identify ocean life as well as engage in dramatic play.

• What did you find in the ocean?

• What different things can we find in the ocean?

• What is your favorite part of going to the beach?

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers". 

South Florida is best seen in a canoe. There is something about gliding through the water that is calming for my little one and myself. We love canoeing and thought we’d make a magic canoe for our storytelling afternoons.

Check out this canoe invitation to create a process art experience that is a quick project with endless learning magic.

Canoe Art Project

Time: 20 minutes Ages: Toddlers + Difficulty: Easy 

Supply List

• Large Cardboard
• Paint (Temperas)
• Container to mix paint
• Twine
• Scissor
• Seashell charms *We used sea sponges

Step 1: Prep Cardboard

Cut out your cardboard canoe. Taking a pencil to sketch it can help guide when cutting.

Step 2: Mix Colors

My son picked out the colors for this project. Toddlers love decision making and my little one was happy to call out his favorite colors. We used blue, yellow and different shades of green.

Use any recycled containers to hold the paint. We used an egg carton and allowed for us to mix the colors right on it.

Step 2: Sea life charms

Start to paint your canoe, we used different size brushes to learn about strokes. You’ll see after a bit you’ll have a favorite go to brush. It’s rather enjoyable to see the paint soak in and colors come to life. Put on the finishing touches with some sea charms.

We had a choice between seashells or sea sponges. (We only have 3 of anything from nature. Meant for our projects, discovery closet or pretend play).

• Tell me what did you use to make your canoe?

• Will you go in the ocean with it?

• I can’t wait to learn about the island you will travel to!

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers". 

There is no better way to investigate natural materials than to go on a nature walk and end your trip with a fun nature based art project.

Here are steps on how to put together your first nature sensory bottle. Also the perfect project for little learners to explore the world around them.

Nature Inspired Sensory Bottle

Time: 20 minutes Ages: Toddlers + Difficulty: Easy 

• Glass bottle with lid (Can also use plastic, but we opted for glass for better transparency.)
• Water
• Glue

Kids love hands-on nature time and collecting treasures.

Peel the label off the bottle, rinse well and clean the outer surface. 

Go on your nature walk and add the natural specimen found by your little one. Filled the bottle with tap water, and seal it. (Can use glue or tape.) Isn’t it awesome how the bottle magnifies the specimen inside?

In this activity, kids learn how to:

• New discoveries about the natural world. 
• Learn about native plants and seasons.

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers". 

Clay working is such an incredibly fun art experience for kids. Plus, the end product is always a cool sculpture piece for your living room.

Here is a very simple activity that can be done with just a few supplies and fit for the attention span of any preschooler. Also the perfect activity to help kids develop fine motor skills, finger strength, and creative expression.

Sculpture Art Project

Time: 20 minutes Ages: Toddlers + Difficulty: Easy 

Supply List

• Modeling Clay Dough

• Styrofoam (save those from delivery packages)

• Tempera Paints + Brown Paper Bag

• Paintbrushes

• Wooden Skewers

Step 1: Prepping board with some paint

Set up the area with couple paint brushes, block of styrofoam, wooden skewers, modeling clay and paint. Paint the styrofoam board while discussing project. We used tempera paint, just enough to get our inspiration going.

Step 2: Squish, squeeze, shape, and sculpt inspired by imagination!

Select a couple of wooden skewers, have child pick one and carefully place onto the styrofoam. They love the feeling of the pointy end moving through the board. All set for the fun to begin. 

Step 3: Sculpture Art

My almost three year old son was totally wrapped into this activity. He loved punching the holes, rolling the clay and the mushy feeling of clay between his hands. Placing the wooden skewers onto the foam board helps for stability and gets them to work vertically. Offering a new perspective.

Watch them play and grow their imagination.

In this activity, kids learn how to:

• Develop fine motor skills, color recognition and creative expression.
• Shape clay into different shapes and if they need a little nudge, explain how vines naturally grow on tress. This will get them to naturally work upwards.  

These are the coolest art sculptures!

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers". 

When I think of exploratory art making, I think of ways that we can get to recreate what nature already provides as inspiration. In this case we learned about the underwater world starting with corals.

Living in South Florida we've seen bits and pieces of coral wash ashore. These living organisms are the most diverse of all marine ecosystems and to learn about it we decided to create our own clay model using what we found at the beach. 

Overfishing and destructive fishing, pollution and all things that cause a change in the ocean chemistry are all taking a huge toll on coral reefs. A big reason why ocean literacy needs to start young. And what better time to engage and inspire ocean advocates than childhood.

Time: 20 minutes Ages: Toddlers + Difficulty: Easy 

Supply List

• Drift Wood
• Modeling Dough
• Seashells
• Loose parts (beads, bottle caps etc)

PROMPTS TO HELP YOU FURTHER ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITY:

• Tell me about what you made.
• I wonder if our local coral reef has all these colors. What do you think?
• What colors did you use? Can you find these same colors in nature?

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers". 

Everyone loves holding a stamp and getting a good print out of it. This project combines all of that: DIY stamp making, printing and up-cycling fun. 

We turned our drift wood finds into a collection of stamps and made a good set of prints. The best part is that our up-cycled wood was the perfect size for a toddler to work his art magic.

If you have wood scraps laying around the house why not turn them into stamps. You can also cut cardboard, make it square size and layer together for a good stamp hold.  If you want to get in on the fun, read below for our step by step process. Surely, stamp printing projects will be a favorite in your household.

What you’ll need to make the wooden texture stamps:

Supply List

• Acrylics
• Wood Scraps *Cardboard works just as good
• Paint brush
• Glue
• Foam craft sheets
• Mat Boards or Regular Paper Sheets

Step 1:

Set aside the wood scraps you plan to work with. Use about five foam craft sheets and cut out different shapes. Paste the shapes onto different sides of flat end of the wood. I know, most stamps only have one side. But, I wanted to take advantage and use all the sides available.  

Step 2:

 Once the foam sheet shapes have dried on the wood,  select colors. We didn't have ink, so we made it a bit more fun. We took a paint brush and painted over the shapes. It required greater skill and ended up being just as messy as ink.

Step 2:

You are ready to start start stamping away. Make sure to have ample boards for your prints. We used all the different sides and overlapping happened.

Perfect abstract art that only our mini artists know how to create.

PROMPTS TO HELP YOU FURTHER ENGAGE IN THE ACTIVITY:

• What shapes did you create?
• Did you like painting each stamp with different colors?
• These patterns look great, which one is your favorite?
• It is so much fun to use wood we had laying around the house!

Please tag me in your creations on Instagram and FB and use the hashtag #EXPLORERARTLAB to spread the word. We hope you enjoy this activity and thank you for being part of our community to grow "Everyday Creative Explorers".