General information

Education Program at Culebra.

The Smithsonian Foundation considers that the private sector plays a vital role in the country’s development, for which scientific knowledge provides increasingly valuable tools for better decision-making.

That is why, together with the private sector, the Foundation has helped to develop and support the following projects:

Punta Culebra Nature Center

1. It reinforced the School Program of the Marine Exhibitions Center through sponsorship from the HSBC Bank, allowing for the number of students who participate in the program to double to 2,000 a month.
2. It coordinated a donation from IPAT for the design and construction of an 8,500-gallon turtle tank.
3. It modernized the Conference Room at the Marine Exhibitions Center through the donation of a 60-inch plasma screen from LG Electronics.
4. It co-sponsored, along with Petrolera Nacional, the construction of an interpretive trail through the dry forest.
5. It coordinated several exhibits, presentations and family activities together with ANCON, Arquitect Julio Chi, Smithsonian scientists and sponsors of the Smithsonian Foundation.
   
   

Touch Pool Exhibit

One of the highlights of a visit to Punta Culebra is the Touch Pool exhibit. Here both young and old can have a hands on experience with marine creatures and learn how to best take care of and appreciate our natural marine environment.

The current touch pools however, are too small for the site. Due to the incredible success and popularity of the School Program, and the demand of the general public, the Smithsonian Foundation carried out a series of fundraising activities to help finance a new Touch Pool Exhibit which was designed by Architect Patrick Dillon.

Children at Punta Culebra touching a starfish.

This Project is not only a beautiful piece of modern architecture, but it is a giant leap forward in allowing easy access to the touch pools and thus improving visitor experience and educational content. It will also allow for a better appreciation of the species’ natural habitat. In addition, Punta Culebra will have its very own stingray exhibit, which will help to shed light on this fascinating yet mysterious marine creature. The new exhibit will make the visit to Punta Culebra all that more fun and interactive for both young and old, and it will also allow us to take better care of our animal friends. We carefully consider the welfare of all the living organisms housed in each of STRI’s facilities, and we deem each and everyone to be a valued part of the STRI family.

It helped disseminate Project Jason XV in Panama

1. It sponsored the training of 200 teachers in the Jason XV curriculum, together with STRI, Cable and Wireless, MEDUC and SENACYT.
2. It coordinated along with STRI and its sponsors the dissemination of Project Jason in local media, for example Channel 5, canal1.net, En Exclusiva magazine and through press conferences.
   
   
   

   The Jason Project promotes education through exploration, it connects students with explorers
   to motivate and inspire them to learn science.

   
   
3. It coordinated the availability of computers with different Internet Access Centers so that students could watch live webcasts of Jason through canal1.net.
4. With the sponsorship of Petroleos Delta, the Gamboa Rainforest Resort, Stratego Communications and the Panama Canal Authority, it organized a Gala Dinner featuring Dr. Robert Ballard to raise funds to support its educational programs.