Kayaking Morro Bay Page 8
Life Morro
MARCH 2014
Nibble Nook Page 5
Bay
EVERYTHING MORRO BAY
State of the Bay
By Ruth Ann Angus For Morro Bay Life
Attendees of one of the kickoff events for Project Surf Camp pose for a photo on Feb. 22. contributed Ellerose Photography
Reach beyond fear to fun Project Surf Camp, special needs education at its best
Allyson Oken
Of Morro Bay Life
F
or the last seven years, special educator John Taylor and his team of surfing and special education gurus have been providing surf lessons to children with a variety of physical and mental disabilities through Project Surf Camp in Morro Bay. This non-profit provides children that may otherwise not interact or be aware of what is going on around them the chance to light up with the tactile sensation of the water, the cold feeling of the wetsuit and learn to surf. The goal is to build self-confidence and social skills, improve physical fitness, develop healthy outlets for stress reduction and foster independence. It is obvious that these kids are benefiting from this type of interaction. For Taylor and as a specialneeds educator and surfer, this program was a natural progression for his career to take. “Ultimately it is tying my pervious career, my current career and my passion together,” said Taylor. “It is a super great way to spend a summer and the people that I have surrounded myself with, that are part of this, are my closest friends and we just have a really great time doing this. It is pretty much self-sufficient now. These guys know what it going on so I can sit back and watch the
These ladies are coming in from a long ride with this little camper who had just as much fun digging in the sand with her sister as she did surfing. Photo by Allyson Oken/Morro Bay Life
magic happen.” Taylor is qualified to provide these services to the community. With his master’s degree in recreation therapy from Indian University, undergraduate in recreation administration and a special education teaching credential, he was able to take this idea and run with it. He also worked as a rehab therapist for about six years and that is when he decided that he wanted to be a special education
teacher. So Taylor went back to school at Cal Poly and got a teaching credential. As a teacher he had summers off so he became a pretty avid surfer in that time and developed this idea. “I was once a team rider for the Morro Bay Surf Company. Not that I am a fantastic surfer, it is just that I have one leg and Please turn to Page 3
Out with the old and in with the new MORRO BAY — Spring is in the air and the smell of wild flowers permeates the streets of Morro Bay, inspiring artists to create “Spring Patterns.” This is the theme for the art exhibit that opened Feb. 27 and will run until April 10 at the Art Center Morro Bay. The show will feature four local
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Of Morro Bay Life
have a new exhibit or artist featured and all art is available for sale. It is a great way for local artists to get a start producing and selling art.” Meyer will also be showing some of her wonderful oil paintings at the Spring Patterns art showcase. She described her creative process as an ongoing adventure. “I’m, for the most part, an oil painter and enjoy doing a lot of sea turtle paintings, birds, landscapes and seascapes,” said Meyer. “For me, art is an ongoing process,
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Allyson Oken
artists. Linda Meyer is an Art Center Morro Bay member, volunteer and artist. She said the exhibit would bring viewers the feeling that spring is all around. “The show is called ‘Spring Patterns’ to emphasize the theme of the exhibit,” said Meyer. “So people should be welcomed into the studio by spring’s bright colors, landscapes and seascapes, floral patterns, creatures that come out of hibernation in spring and much more. To enter a work of art you have to be a member of the Art Center Morro Bay. Every six weeks, we
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Monthly publication dedicated to covering everything in Morro Bay, CA.
Art Center Morro Bay opens ‘Spring Patterns’
Are you concerned about the water quality in the bay? Are you interested in finding out how conditions are? Then you want to attend the Morro Bay National Estuary Program’s “State of the Bay” in April. A variety of events will take place throughout the month, and they will be informative, and most of all, fun. Since its inception in 1995 the Morro Bay National Estuary Program has studied the quality of the water in the bay with special monitoring projects, developed methods to improve the habitat in the watershed, and educated and informed the public about these things. The Estuary Program is one of 28 National Estuary Programs in the country and is one of the smallest. Compare Morro Bay to San Francisco Bay and you will understand how special it is to have a designated National Estuary Program in place in Morro Bay. National Estuary programs receive funding and support from the Environmental Protection Agency and are involved with safeguarding and improving the coastal waterways of our country. Morro Bay is not only a National Estuary, but is also a designated State Estuary. Although the charter calls for both restoration and protection, the Morro Bay National Estuary Program has no governmental regulation authority, but fosters collaboration with local government, environmental organizations and citizens. In other words, the estuary program does not levy fines or arrest people for actions that harm the bay, but works with local governments and the public to enable better understanding of water-quality issues and implement collaborative solutions. Good water quality is a necessity if birds and wildlife are to thrive. The waters of Morro Bay support oyster farming which is a highly regulated farming industry. If bacteria levels are too high, the health department requires that the farms shut down and no oysters can be marketed until such time that the waters are clear again. Because oysters are filter feeders, high bacteria levels can