MarS-to-Monterey: Student Scholarship Fund (2024)

Hello MarS Family, my name is Phil Tacata and I'm the proud Director of the Petaluma High School Marine Science Program.

For over 30 years, students enrolled in the PHS Marine Science course have been able to participate in a dynamic, academically rigorous course filled with opportunities for deep, experiential learning, meaningful community service, and authentic marine stewardship. At the heart of our program is fantastic 3-day/2-night expedition to the Monterey peninsula where our students get to experience -first hand- the majesty and wonder of one of the richest, most biologically diverse marine reserves in the world. It is not hyperbole to say that the Monterey trip has positively influenced the lives of generations of PHS MarS students... Indeed, the trip not only provides great memories for kids (as those who have been on the expedition can attest), but has the power and promise to shape the lives of our students, often inspiring them to pursue careers in marine biology, wildlife conservation, engineering, and public policy. Here's a preliminary agenda for this year's trips as well as a short video of the Feb 2018 MarS-to-Monterey trip :)

Funding for these kinds of experiences for students in California Public Schools are often dependent on the resources of the families of the attending students; families asked to "donate" a certain amount for their kid to go on the trip. If a student is not in a position to pay the funds needed to attend the trip, the onus of responsibility for finding funds for that student are placed squarely on the shoulders of the teacher as there are no built-in structures to provide a reliable source of funding in most districts, including ours (Petaluma City Schools). Morally AND ethically, I cannot -and will not- run a valuable trip such as the Monterey expedition unless I can take ALL my students and WE ALL GO TOGETHER.

Since the COVID shutdown, the prices of everything to run this trip, from charter transportation to hotel room&board and ticket prices, have risen 15-30%... The requested "donation" per student this year is $775, a significant increase from last year's donation request of $600. This has put many of our MarS families in a difficult financial predicament. Below is a link to a simplified budget breakdown for this year's MarS-to-Monterey trips:

MarS to Monterey 2024 Budget Breakdown

This year, I have 14 students and their families requesting a full scholarship to attend the MarS-to-Monterey trips in 2024 (Jan & Feb) along with 8 students who are also requesting partial scholarships. I estimate that we'll need between $13,500 & $15,000 in scholarship monies to safely cover all the expenses incurred for both trips from our students in need.

Would you please consider donating to this crowd fundraiser and sponsoring a student to attend this life-changing opportunity and experience? I am hoping to run this campaign through November and begin using the funds in December to pay our vendors for their services. Monies withdrawn from this fundraiser will go to me, Phil Tacata, and upon withdrawal, I will immediately deposit those funds to an account under the Petaluma Wildlife Museum (where the PWM's accountant will track the expenses for the trip). Any monies that exceed the donation goal of $15,000 will be banked and be available for us to access and use for next year's MarS-to-Monterey expeditions. No amount is too small and please, share this link freely and widely throughout your friends, family, and social media networks.

Deepest gratitude and thanks,

(Learn, Love, Protect...)

-Mr. Tacata

ps. For your records, the Petaluma Wildlife Museum Tax ID # ​is 68-021399. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.