About
STEM Education Programs include live chats, videos, and presentations, along with activities educating groups about Pacific Marine Mammal Center’s mission. The program offers a hands-on, interactive experience exploring whale anatomy and marine mammal artifacts, and it includes activities exploring human impacts on the ocean. Some programs take kids behind the scenes with the animal care team and explore the research that keeps marine mammals thriving.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center began as Friends of the Sea Lion in 1971. The center operates a marine mammal hospital and a barn that still functions as the rehabilitation hub. The facility includes the Bob Barker Visitor Yard and a life-size inflatable gray whale named Winston. The organization states a mission to inspire ocean stewardship through animal rescue and rehabilitation, research, STEM education programs, and advocacy for a healthy ocean. It is described as the first marine mammal rehabilitation facility in California and as leading in veterinary research, STEM education, and ocean conservation efforts. Pacific Marine Mammal Center is the only stranding center in Orange County, California authorized to rescue and respond to sea lions, seals, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales under the Marine Mammal Protection Act through a stranding agreement issued by NOAA Fisheries. The center shares responsibility for marine mammal rehabilitation with six other centers along California’s coastline and is a West Coast Region Stranding Network Partner of the national Marine Mammal Health & Stranding Response Program. Community involvement includes participation as a special guest at Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center’s Baby Shower and offering hands-on activities as an exhibitor at KELPFEST hosted by Laguna Ocean Foundation. The facility has a planned expansion called The Next Wave, which includes a water reclamation system that will save the community 15,000 gallons of water every day. The leadership team includes Jim Stauffer, John Cunningham, and Dr. Rose Ekeberg.
Last updated May 3, 2026.
Pacific Marine Mammal Center began as Friends of the Sea Lion in 1971. The center operates a marine mammal hospital and a barn that still functions as the rehabilitation hub. The facility includes the Bob Barker Visitor Yard and a life-size inflatable gray whale named Winston. The organization states a mission to inspire ocean stewardship through animal rescue and rehabilitation, research, STEM education programs, and advocacy for a healthy ocean. It is described as the first marine mammal rehabilitation facility in California and as leading in veterinary research, STEM education, and ocean conservation efforts. Pacific Marine Mammal Center is the only stranding center in Orange County, California authorized to rescue and respond to sea lions, seals, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales under the Marine Mammal Protection Act through a stranding agreement issued by NOAA Fisheries. The center shares responsibility for marine mammal rehabilitation with six other centers along California’s coastline and is a West Coast Region Stranding Network Partner of the national Marine Mammal Health & Stranding Response Program. Community involvement includes participation as a special guest at Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center’s Baby Shower and offering hands-on activities as an exhibitor at KELPFEST hosted by Laguna Ocean Foundation. The facility has a planned expansion called The Next Wave, which includes a water reclamation system that will save the community 15,000 gallons of water every day. The leadership team includes Jim Stauffer, John Cunningham, and Dr. Rose Ekeberg.
Last updated May 3, 2026.
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