ABOUT FOGHORN
Our Vision
Like a school bell for the open ocean, a foghorn’s blow is roaring moment with a big message. Whether to tell a ship to redirect, to beware, or to simply keep going in the haze and storms of the open ocean, foghorns aid in reinforcing these giant’s path.
Through education, we envision a center packed with inspiration, curiosity, and knowledge for students as they discover, pivot, explore, and rediscover a love and sense of purpose in their connections to the natural world.
The Foghorn Curriculum
The Foghorn STEAM Curriculum is a growing body of work which aims to centralize the Pacific Northwest’s history, ecology, restoration, and future. Led by Henry Wetzel with partnerships from fisherman, educators, marine biologists, and research assistants, the curriculum is presented through speaking engagments, summer camps, and field trip expeditions at the beach. The curriculum orbits a central mission to engage our community with the nature world in a way that inspires personal and professional connections.
Six Spheres of Knowledge
Foundations of Oceanography and Marine Biology
Terrestrial and Avian Studies
Coastal Ecosystems
Interdisciplinary Connections
Pacific Northwest Studies
Global Perspectives
History
Foghorn’s History
Author: Amita Dubois
A firm believer that it is just as important to connect with the natural world as it is to connect with other people, Founder Henry Wetzel created Foghorn with the intention of sharing and demonstrating the wonder of nature.
“Nature is a place of reflection, understanding and companionship. It has the power to amplify a person’s sense of home and belonging. But just as nature can help us shape ourselves, it needs our help to shape its future.”
Restoration efforts, scientific research, and habitat maintenance are all centered in a love and respect for the natural world. Foghorn aims to foster that reverence through a free-spirited curriculum that immerses students in the science, history, art and knowledge of the land and water of our Pacific Northwest region.
“We help our students develop the tools to become prideful artists, historians, scientists, and admirers of this beautiful land and sound we all call home.”
Initially offering camps, Foghorn’s offerings soon expanded to school visits and field trips.
“I envisioned a place where students could learn through an enjoyable, immersive experience. Marine biology is a subject taught in school, but oftentimes it falls flat for students because they learn through tests and worksheets in a classroom. I wanted a place where students could have a worksheet in their hands, standing on the beach, finding exactly what they were learning about at their feet.”
