Dear Friends,

During fiscal year 2025 (July 2024-June 2025), the Seymour Marine Discovery Center celebrated its 25th anniversary. It was a year to deepen the transformative educational experiences that have created generations of young scientists. It was also a year to lay the foundation for the next era of impact centered around Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz.

Thanks to your support, we delivered the educational programs you’ve come to love and trust. Plus, we made exciting progress in preparing for two major new exhibit experiences that will spark curiosity and create the next generation of scientists and solution makers: SeeMore HQ and Ms. Blue.

Your Impact in Fiscal Year 2025

Every day at Seymour Center, hands-on science transforms young minds and creates future scientists. With your support, in FY25, we welcomed more than 67,000 people into the exhibit hall, delivered hundreds of field trip experiences, and educated more than 6,000 young explorers in our youth programs. 

• Discovery Labs provided engaging, tactile encounters with marine science: “The content at the Seymour Center’s Discovery Lab & Tour is consistently and reliably TOP NOTCH: structured, well organized, and expertly led – all while providing students hand-on experiences that bring alive relevant grade-level state standards in science. Our field trips at the Seymour Center are not only fun, but also memorable educational adventures.”-Local K-12 school teacher
• Our Ocean Explorers summer camp offered immersive experiences that connected youth with real-world science and solutions. “We wanted to thank you & the program counselors for such an AMAZING and TERRIFIC week as Ocean Explorers! It was one of the most fun, stimulating, mind-expanding weeks that [my son]  has ever had, as a lover of nature and future biologist….[It was] not only fun but has expanded his vision of the possibilities in his future — as a Seymour Center volunteer, perhaps even as a UCSC biology student, or future educator and scientist.” -Parent of an Ocean Explorers summer camp participant

That is your impact when you visit, donate, become a member, or rent our facility. The moments like the ones above create scientists and solution-makers. Over 25 years with 1.4 million visitors and two hundred thousand K-14 participants, we have created countless scientists—together.

FY25 marks our fourth consecutive year ending with a financial surplus thanks to generous donors, members, visitors, gift shop customers, and rental clients. Internally, our financial results reflect the deft fiscal leadership by Seymour Center’s Deputy Director, Lauren Donnelly-Crocker, and revenue-generating program managers like Emily Casaretto, Emily San Nicolas, and Annie Smith. A strong, sustainable business gives us confidence to deliver on our mission, dream big and act boldly. 

Students and community members who volunteer their time in our exhibit hall and classrooms are the lifeblood of Seymour Center. In fact, comments about the fabulous exhibit guides and docents are the most common piece of feedback we hear and read online. Under Sarah Groff’s leadership, more than 200 people volunteered at Seymour Center in FY25, more than double than when she took over the program.   

Where we go in 2026

FY26 is all about activating our Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz engine. We will break ground on Ms. Blue’s restoration, begin to install SeeMore HQ, and embed Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz across all our programs and exhibits.

Our goals for the year include:

• Building a strong team that can deliver with excellence
• Growing income, both earned and contributed
• Prioritizing quality over speed as we scale new projects
• Integrating Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz into every visitor and learner experience
• Preparing for the launch of SeeMore HQ, our new flagship exhibit 
• Breaking ground on Ms. Blue’s restoration using innovative, climate-safe technologies

Laying the Groundwork for Two Flagship Projects 

FY25 was a launchpad year for two strategic initiatives that will define Seymour Center’s next decade.

Ms. Blue’s Restoration

We finalized the vision and rounded out the first phase of funding for Ms. Blue, our iconic blue whale skeleton. Ms. Blue’s restoration is one of preservation and innovation fueled by community passion and ingenuity. We’re using climate-smart materials: 3D printed replicas derived from recycled hospital trays and a bone repair putty made of shrimp shells. Using sustainable techniques will ensure Ms. Blue remains a symbol of science and solutions for decades to come. Contracting is now underway, and work will begin in 2026. Check out this 6-minute video about our innovative approach to the restoration. 

SeeMore HQ: The Heart of Science, Solutions, Santa Cruz

We raised the funds to launch SeeMore HQ, an ambitious new exhibit zone designed as the “control room” of Seymour Center’s visitor experience. This dynamic, digital-first exhibit will spotlight:

• The newest, most cutting-edge research from UC Santa Cruz
• Multimedia content about science and solutions most relevant to our challenges and conversations in Santa Cruz County 
• Hands-on interactives that connect Science, Solutions, and Santa Cruz

I am so excited about how SeeMore HQ will add depth, intrigue, and excitement to your experience at Seymour Center. I’m even more excited about the impact it will make to create scientists and build broad awareness and support of local environmental science and solutions.

Honoring Kevin Keedy and Building on his Legacy

Later this year, we will celebrate the retirement of longtime Youth Programs Director Kevin Keedy. Kevin built Discovery Labs from scratch more than 25 years ago. He elevated Ocean Explorers to be one of the most in-demand and impactful summer camps in the region. Kevin’s work has directly and indirectly educated nearly 200,000 K-14 students. 

I’ve never met an educator more passionate and relentlessly committed to crafting and curating impactful educational experiences. His work has created myriad young scientists and solutions-makers who will go on to become the marine and environmental leaders of tomorrow.

We’re thrilled to continue that legacy under the leadership of Dana Neel, and we’ll soon begin the recruitment process for the next Education Director to support our growing vision.

This is a thrilling time at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center and your continued support makes it all possible.

With deep appreciation,

Jonathan Hicken
Executive Director
Seymour Marine Discovery Center