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As a young girl, I loved school and had an incredible passion for learning, some of which I hope will rub off on my children. Even in the summer, I look for activities outside of the classroom to engage and inspire them because the world around us is so much more than numbers and letters. As was the case with my own childhood, my littles are fortunate to attend a school that embraces all types of learning, and often that means taking field trips. But for many American children, even children living right here in Southern California, these types of exciting, real-world experiences don’t happen often enough. It might come as a shock that an organization like Orangewood Children’s Foundation exists solely to provide one-on-one support for abused and neglected children right here in Orange County.
As part of Verizon FiOS’ influencer program, I had an opportunity to be involved with one of the brand’s Influence Change Programs.
The brand has given grants to a number of community organizations, including ExplorOcean, a nonprofit that offers educational experiences designed to teach people of all ages about the ocean.
Last week, I joined the FiOS team as they volunteered during a one-day camp at the Ocean Literacy Center located in Newport Beach, California.
130 9th graders learned about plankton, experimented with three types of sand, took a Harbor Cruise, participated in a crab catch and launched water bottle rockets, as part of an engaging, hands-on day of discovery.
Knowing that all of the children who participated in this exciting day camp were from foster families was inspiring.
Their joy was contagious and I found myself just as excited as they were about the ocean-inspired activities. Teens are at this unique point in their lives where they are able to recognize that their actions make a difference, and this program was a great way to inspire a love for and responsibility to protecting our oceans.
Image Courtesy of FiOS
ExplorOcean is one of the three non-profit organizations Verizon FiOS has partnered with to influence local change, each of which have received $5,000 grants to date. Since March, Verizon has donated $40,000 to organizations all over Southern California and wants the local community to vote on future projects to be funded including the Boys and Girls Club of Long Beach, Pomona Valley Habitat for Humanity, and ExplorOcean. I encourage you to vote and perhaps consider volunteering your time to help these causes.
If you’ve yet to experience Internet in the fast lane with Verizon FiOS’s Quantum Internet service, you can still catch up with them during one of their live events. The FiOS SoCal Experience team and vehicles will be at the Old Town Cruise Night on August 30th in Camarillo, California and at the Long Beach Greek Festival August 31st through September 2nd. You’ll have the opportunity to experience FiOS Internet and TV in the iconic 1965 Volkswagen van that has been teched out into a mobile entertainment system complete with HDTVs.
To learn more about FiOS or to Influence Change, visit FiOSSoCal.com.
Images: Rockin’ Mama unless noted.
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