B.8 SOARing with Kindergartners
Before a journey to Pihemanu within Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in June 2009, Ron asked teachers if their students would ask him questions to ponder while out in the middle of the Pacific. The result was an ongoing project called SOAR, Save Our Albatrosses/Research. SOAR was the brainchild of young Evelyn, a gifted child who continues to inspire NOAA and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. SOAR included all of the participants in Project Serious Sand and other SOAR efforts to rid the oceans of deadly plastics. Ron will talk about his experience in the Pacific, and about the SOAR project. Ron Hirschi
 Ron Hirschi
Ron writes nature books for kids and works with them on many environmental projects as well as projects that combine art and ecology. Ron and the kids have restored and protected wetlands and streams and called attention to needs of the watersheds that feed our oceans. He recently started Project SOAR to eliminate plastics from the sea.