Lamorinda Teacher Selected To Swim With Sharks

LAMORINDA, CA — A science teacher at The Saklan School in Moraga recently completed a seven-day course in the Bahamas where she had the opportunity to have personal encounters with several species of sharks and rays.

Vickie Obenchain was one of 36 teachers chosen to participate in the Summer 2023 Educator Course with the nonprofit Bimini Biological Field Station Foundation on the island of South Bimini, Bahamas.

While at the Bimini Field Station, Obenchain had the opportunity to: swim with juvenile lemon sharks in mangroves; snorkel with Caribbean reef sharks, blacktip sharks, lemon sharks and nurse sharks; interact with southern stingrays on a white sand beach; and snorkel with sea turtles at shipwreck sites.

She gained insight into the history, evolution and current role of sharks and rays in these unique ecosystems, as well as the current plight they face because of misperceptions of these predators.

Obenchain is excited to share what she learned with her middle-school students at The Saklan School. Upon completion of the course, she shared that she couldn't “wait to get back into the classroom!”

She has units planned for her students on conservation, endangered species, cartilaginous fish, and how human perceptions of predators impact species — all of which she studied as part of the weeklong course in the Bahamas.

Obenchain is also excited to help students who may be interested in marine science as a possible career path.

Learn more about The Saklan School here.

See more about the educator course here.