University of Delaware’s marine workshop gives teachers a hands-on experience in the summer

On Monday, teachers were at Cape Henlopen State Park but they weren't there to have fun in the sun, they were there to learn.

13 teachers from different counties hit the beach to collect trash and plastics. It's all apart of University of Delaware Sea Grant's marine debris workshop. 

"We usually base that on areas of need. We've been hearing request for marine debris pollution and kind of workshops by teachers," Marine Advisory Service Director, Chris Petrone tells 47 ABC. 

It's the first one ever hosted. These educators can get a hands on experience about the topic and pass it on to their students. 

After collecting debris, they head back to the lab to check the samples. Once it's studied, they were able to make something out of it. 

They had the choice to make something artistic or go the engineering route, by designing solutions.

One Sussex Tech science teacher Vinny Colombo tells 47 ABC, "It really helps you bring marine science into your classroom and this is something you can always relate to, especially with us being in a coastal community. Anywhere in Delaware, you're only 8 miles from tidal water."

This workshop highlights how hard teachers work even during their months off. It gives them tools and resources to get ready back into the classroom. 

Through the marine debris class just like this one, teachers act as the student, a way to become an even better educator. 

"One of the things that teachers always have to do is teach themselves. If you're not a good learner then you're probably not gonna be a good of a teacher. Teachers have to constantly constantly be ahead of the game, learn new things, and do hands-on science," Colombo says.