O C E A N A DVO C ATE S
Inspiring
Tomorrow’s
A Plan to Revitalize MarineLab Key Largo
C A P ITA L C A M PA I G N
MarineLab is the education department of Marine Resources Development Foundation, Inc. a 501(c)3 organization.
Creating Ripples of Change
MarineLab Key Largo is an environmental education center providing outstand-
ing marine science programs for students of all ages. With the Florida Keys as
our classroom we promote an immersive hands-on learning approach. Through
the blend of education and adventure, we nurture environmental awareness
and conservation on a local, regional, national, and global scale.
Ginette Hughes
CEO, MarineLab
A Message from Our CEO
In 1986, I began my
journey with MarineLab,
joining as the 'booking
secretary' for a fledgling
marine science education
program. It was led then
by science teacher Art
Mitchell and started by
our founder, Ian Koblick,
who ingeniously transformed a burnt-out restaurant
complex into our current campus and marina.
Nearly four decades later, I proudly serve as CEO
of a thriving organization that has influenced
countless students and teachers. Many of our
students, now professionals in marine sciences and
environmental advocacy, credit their success to
their time at MarineLab. Our legacy is not just in
our work but in the individual futures we inspire.
Our strong reputation is built on an exceptional
curriculum, dedicated staff, and unwavering
commitment to safety. Many schools have trusted
us for decades, some returning since the 1980s.
As we continue to expand, providing over 1,500
student scholarships and involving more than
8,000 participants in 2023, we must modernize our
aging campus. Your support is crucial for securing
MarineLab's future, protecting ocean ecosystems,
and fostering the stewards our programs inspire.
Thank you,
BuildingMarineLabsFuture.org
Investing in the Future
Now is the time to upgrade and fortify our facilities,
ensuring they meet our growing national and inter-
national programs while better adapting to climate
challenges that face our Key Largo ecosystem.
Having served hundreds of thousands of students
amidst rising sea levels and enduring major
hurricanes, we've faced mounting maintenance
costs and ongoing challenges disrupting our
educational mission. As demand for our acclaimed
programs grows, MarineLab requires a holistic
solution to meet these challenges and opportunities
to fulfill our mission.
Your generous support is essential for securing
our organization's promising future. In this initial
funding round of our campaign, we aim to achieve
two significant construction goals.
SEAWALL & DOCK RECONSTRUCTION
We plan to significantly enhance coastal resilience
of our campus, defending against erosion and
storm surges. Work on our seawall and docks will
provide continued safe access and preserve our
local ecosystem.
NEW DORM, CLASSROOMS, & CAFETERIA BUILDING
We plan to replace the ground level and wooden
structures with a durable, energy-efficient concrete
structure, designed to adapt to weather changes
and accommodate our long-term educational goals.
Project cost adjusted
for inflation
$11.4 M
BuildingMarineLabsFuture.org
Transforming Ripples
into Waves
Our History
In 1970, the first Earth Day marked the birth of the environmental movement.
That year, ocean explorer Ian Koblick founded the Marine Resources Develop-
ment Foundation (MRDF), dedicated to exploring and preserving our oceans.
After 15 years, MRDF expanded to Key Largo, acquiring our lagoon-front
property. A burned-out restaurant and marina became a vibrant educational
and research facility visited annually by over 6,000 students and teachers
worldwide. Today, it remains a priceless community resource committed to
safeguarding our ocean and helping inspire tomorrow's ocean advocates.
“Year after year our
alums tell us that
MarineLab was the
most meaningful
field trip of their
time at school.”
Dan Bassett
St Mark’s Episcopal, FL
Summary of Programs
STUDENT PROGRAMS
We enrich our students’ educational journey with
hands-on scientific exploration and experimentation,
with several of our programs incorporating citizen
science initiatives that help many ongoing real-world
studies. Our up-to-date scientific instruction
extends learning beyond the classroom, positively
influencing family choices, fostering conservation
awareness, and shaping career aspirations. We also
strive to make our programs accessible to every
student, actively supporting underserved Florida
youth through our Art Mitchell Scholarship Fund and
regional funding partners.
TEACHER EDUCATION
We seek to inspire students worldwide, and it’s
through teachers that we make this a reality —
welcoming thousands from across the US, Europe,
and Southeast Asia. Our immersive programs
empower educators of all grade levels to teach
their students about marine ecosystems and
conservation. Incorporating citizen science and
marine research techniques into workshops
gives teachers even more insight on real world
challenges. An extraoridinary bond thrives through
our Caribbean Teacher Initiative, where we host
teachers from neighboring island nations for
an extended stay. By the numbers, our impact
reaches thousands more students each year.
BuildingMarineLabsFuture.org
“Most students
come from land-
locked states and
never get a chance
to visit the ocean.
The look of wonder,
joy, and curiosity
on their faces
makes it well worth
the trip!”
Harry Wood
Alabama Institute for
the Deaf & Blind
SARAH’S STORY
Sarah Whelan's visit to MarineLab in 1992 ignited
her life's passion. As a seventh-grade student
from Illinois, her education in Key Largo instilled a
profound appreciation for the ocean and its role in
our lives. Her school's visit ended unexpectedly in
evacuation on the eve of Hurricane Andrew's arrival.
She witnessed first-hand the ocean's impact on
coastal resiliency. Despite her upbringing in rural America, her commitment to
protecting our oceans emerged.
That same commitment paved the way for a career in environmental law. She
got her start safeguarding the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, working tirelessly on
policies supporting sustainable fishing and marine wildlife protection.
Today, as the Executive Director of The Healthy Ocean Coalition, Sarah leads
a movement of over 200 organizations, scientists, coastal inhabitants, and
advocates. The coalition aims to advance national policy that guides the
responsible stewardship of our nation's oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes,
ensuring a healthy ocean for current and future generations.
BuildingMarineLabsFuture.org
200K
Worldwide visitors
since 1985
MarineLab programs have an impressive multiplier
effect. Teachers share their knowledge with
hundreds of pupils annually, and students take their
experiences home, influencing lifestyle decisions.
Lasting Impressions
HEATHER’S STORY
Heather Kuhlken first
experienced MarineLab
as a high school student
in 1991. She had always
loved the ocean but had
never had the opportunity
to study it so closely.
Those five days in our
classrooms inspired her to pursue a biology and
ecology degree and instilled hope that she could
also teach in the field one day.
During college, she became one of our interns and
received mentorship from Art Mitchell, our former
Director of MarineLab. Art guided her into her
dream career of becoming a teacher. After a few
years in the classroom, she returned to teaching in
the field and back into what had inspired her many
years before.
In 2008, Heather founded Families in Nature, a
non-profit organization that offers environmentally
responsible, immersive, nature-rich travel and field
science experiences for children and families. Since
then, her organization has become an international
thought leader in the movement to connect people
to nature. Heather and her non-profit have traveled
from Texas every year to MarineLab Key Largo for
the last decade.
Learn more about Heather’s
organization here:
Marine Resources Development Foundation dba MarineLab is a 501(c)3 organization operating under Florida Charitable Solicitations License CH113. A copy
of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services at www.800helpfla.com or call 800-435-7352.
Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State.
Looking Forward
For information on how you can help, please visit: BuildingMarineLabsFuture.org , or contact us at
305-451-1139 ext 3, or send an email to kim@marinelab.org. (EIN: 67-0258256)
The Road Ahead
As we embark on this fundraising journey, we look
optimistically at the future, reflecting on what has
made us such an enduring organization. We are
proud of our perseverance and remain more
dedicated than ever to share our mission.
Envision with us the vibrant future of MarineLab
Key Largo—a resilient, modernized campus that
can better accommodate visitors worldwide. A
fortified seawall that stays strong takes the
challenges of climate change head on. But more
importantly, our work, message, and teaching move
with more velocity and impact—reaching and
inspiring more people each year.
Thank you for being the wind in our sails and
propelling us towards this bright and achievable
future. Every donation adds momentum to a
swelling force, contributing to a wave of positive
change. Your investment is more than an
investment in us, in our campus; it is an investment
into the very health of our oceans, our planet, the
future of your children and generations to come.
Special thanks to our growing list of supporters
Ocean Reef Conservation Association
Annette Urso Rickel Foundation
Lookout Foundation
Edward B. & Joan T. Knight Foundation
Community Foundation of the Florida Keys
United Way of Collier & The Keys
Ocean First Blue
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
Disney Conservation Fund
Baptist Health South Florida
Johnny Morris Bass Pro Shops and Cabela's
OCEEF
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