Marine Science Club Presents to Pearl River School Board (VIDEO)

Pearl River High School Science Teacher Tom Mullane, advisor to the Marine Science Club, asked if anybody in the room had been a member of the club in the past during Tuesday's school board meeting.

Board President Michael T. Clohessy and Vice President Rob Davis both raised their hands.

"Kids...huddle," Mullane said, drawing a laugh from the room.

In truth, the plan didn't change at all as club members Nick Cortright, Mike LoTure, Karl Brandt, Tori Tanner and Felica Natale spoke to the board about their group's members and activities.

"We get 30-to-40 students coming in from multiple grades," LoTure said. "I think that’s great. We get a lot of younger kids and kids that want to explore their ideas. We get to know each other and do great things.

"Although we do a lot of learning in Marine Science Club, we do it in a very casual way. We don't all just sit there opening up books."

The club members learn about caring for fish and their tanks, but also how marine animals live in nature.

"At our weekly meetings, we research marine life, discuss marine life, give presentations, watch documentary films and listen to guest speakers," Tanner said.

They take field trips and also pass along what they learn.

"We also do a lot of teaching," Natale said. "Every year we hold the marine science fair. We all specify a certain area, a fish or a part of the ocean, and we do a presentation about it."