By Stephen Peters
Staff Writer

Students from Nags Head Elementary, Kitty Hawk Elementary and First Flight High School’s AP Biology and AP Environmental Science classes anticipate the arrival of the Dolphin Research Center as  representatives will be on the Outer Banks  Friday, March 15 to present programs about dolphins, our planet and conservation.

“We welcome the chance to connect with students of any age in hopes that we can help them become dedicated stewards of the environment,” said Rita Irwin , Dolphin Research Center president and CEO. “Working with younger people means that they will have that much more time throughout their lives to champion dolphins, the environment and conservation efforts in their communities as well as around the world.”

The Dolphin Research Center is a nonprofit education and research facility, home to many Atlantic bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions and is located in Grassy Key, Fla. With the little research that has been done in the field of marine mammals, the Dolphin Research Center focuses on learning more about marine mammals as well as habitat preservation, according to the organization’s mission statement.

“Education is a major part of the DRC’s mission. Through our many programs on site as well as via outreach opportunities like this, Distance Learning and other means, we believe we can inspire students with greater knowledge about these amazing animals and, hopefully, foster increased conservation efforts,” Irwin said. “The Florida Keys and the Outer Banks geographically have a lot in common with our ocean environment and the company of dolphins so we’re a good fit for your schools (on the Outer Banks).”

Students that are taking Katie Neller’s AP biology class and AP Environmental Science class will get to listen and interact with the guest speakers.

“I’m excited to listen and learn from the guest speaker,”said Grant Keenan, sophomore and AP Biology student. “I think it is a great educational opportunity for science students.”

Neller says she is anticipating the arrival of the Dolphin Research team just as much as her students.

“I can’t wait for them to come Friday,” Neller said. “I think the students will be able to connect better with the presentation, because most of the time kids can relate to animals more than they can relate to other people.”

These programs on Friday will be followed by a “Dessert with Dolphins” event on Saturday, March 16, at the Sea Scape club house from 7:00-9:30 p.m. Desserts will be served, followed by presentations. The Dolphin Research Center staff and the Outer Banks Center for Dolphin Research will talk about their work and how to support teaching and learning in Dare County Schools.  A painting by student artist Liah McPherson, a First Flight High School sophomore, will be auctioned off during the event to raise money for the Dolphin Research Center.

“I don’t know how much it will go for, but I hope that the money will go toward the care of their dolphins or their new research in wild dolphins in the Grassy Key area,” McPherson said. “The happiness of the dolphins there comes first before anything, so I have no doubt the money will go to good use.”

McPherson has attended camps at the Dolphin Research Center and her artwork is proudly displayed in their dorm facility and in the executive offices.

“The Dolphin Research Center is my favorite place on earth,” McPherson said. “It has a great atmosphere about it. I go there for a week every summer for various levels of their Dolphin Lab program. Eventually, I’d like to work there, so I’m trying to get my foot in the door.

“DRC is the reason I love dolphins so much,” McPherson said. “I can only hope that my classmates will benefit from this presentation.”

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