My Nonprofit Reviews

The Save the Whales program has become part of our Frank Ledesma Elementary School’s family. The in-class programs and outdoor field trips continue to lay a strong foundation for encouraging successful learning and building positive attitudes that can subsequently lead to improvements not only in environmental stewardship but in student academic achievement and motivation. While the geographic distance between Monterey Bay and Soledad is relatively short, the cultural distance is long; many of the children in our school have never been to the ocean, and have little to no understanding of their connection with the coast. Listen to the teachers:

“The students were engaged in climbing, touching, feeling the exterior and interior of a ‘real’ whale. It brought the concepts of recycling and pollution into reality with the use of Dee the whale that they could fully experience (both inside and outside). Students remembered the content presented in an earlier Save The Whales program and applied that knowledge when meeting Dee. “
Amy Bowen, 4th Grade Teacher, Frank Ledesma Elementary

“Every student was fully engaged and attentive. Every part of the presentation helped students learn about whales because of the hands-on and strong presentations with student participation components throughout the program. Unlike textbook-based learning, the hands-on experience help students retain and internalize learning. The most valuable aspect of this program is that students are beginning to take ownership of what they have learned. I believe that the students will become caretakers of the ocean.“
Sung Shin, 5th Grade Teacher, Frank Ledesma Elementary

Frank Ledesma Elementary School supports a diverse population of students both culturally and socio-economically. Our school is a Title l school, and a large percentage of our students come from low-income families. The opportunity for these children to get outside and interact with the natural environment will enhance their learning and broaden their horizons. We encourage any generous donors to continue the funding of Save The Whales’ program. This program touches lives beyond anything we had imagined. Thank you very much!

Richard Radtke, Principal, Frank Ledesma Elementary, Soledad Unified School District