Marissa Bornn Brings Ocean Science to Foster Kids of All Ages

Some of my earliest memories are tied to the ocean. From snorkeling with my family, to watching turtles graze on seagrass in St. Thomas. Those experiences shaped my love of the sea, which followed me to college, where I pursued a degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and conducted my senior thesis research on the behavior of invasive lionfish in the Caribbean. This summer, I had the chance to bring that research home to Nana Baby Children’s Home.

I first worked at Nana Baby during high school and have kept in touch with the director, Darien, and many of the children over the years. The home provides a family-style environment for children in foster care. Knowing the kids personally meant I could design an activity that would be fun, personally relevant, and the right mix of science and play. My goal was simple: spark curiosity, build trust, and introduce scientific observation skills through a hands-on lionfish observation activity based on my own research.

I wanted the activity to feel like real science but scaled to be age-appropriate. I printed dozens of lionfish photos - juveniles and adults, hunting and resting, solo and in groups, and hiding under reef ledges (example of solitary hunting lionfish below!). I created simplified field notebooks, with checkboxes and symbols for younger kids and graph templates for older ones. I also brought a frozen lionfish specimen (spines removed) so the kids could see up close the bold stripes, wide pectoral fins, and anatomy that make lionfish both beautiful and problematic invaders.

Because the kids range widely in age, I planned the activity in layers: younger ones could focus on spotting and coloring lionfish, while older ones could take on data collection, graphing, and discussing habitat patterns. I also prepped marine scientist certificates so each child would leave with a tangible reminder of their achievement (image right).

We began in the living room, where I introduced myself as both a scientist and someone who grew up here, just like them. I shared a little about how I got into marine biology and explained that lionfish, while stunning, are an invasive species in the Caribbean, eating huge numbers of juvenile reef fish and upsetting the balance of the ecosystem.

Then came the real lionfish specimen. Some kids leaned in immediately to touch it, while others kept a cautious distance. The main event was a hide-and-seek-style survey. Older kids helped me hide the laminated lionfish photos around the communal spaces — under tables, near shadows, “swimming” in groups, or alone in tricky spots. Then everyone became a field scientist, recording what they found in their notebooks: time of day (AM/PM), depth (high vs. low placement), group size, and whether the fish looked active or resting.

After the hunt, we gathered to share and sort our data. The older kids filled in bar charts to see patterns, while younger ones shared what they had spotted and where they found their fish. We compared our findings to patterns I’d seen in my own research and talked about why lionfish might choose certain spots. We ended the morning with lionfish coloring pages and I left them with all the materials to repeat the activity and continue learning about lionfish.

The kids were engaged from start to finish. They asked questions not just about lionfish but about other ocean creatures they’d seen. One boy chose to share his observations with me one-on-one rather than the group (a reminder that engagement looks different for everyone). Another beamed when I handed him his marine scientist certificate, sprinting around the house to show the staff  before proudly sticking it to the fridge. The hide-and-seek element was a hit, with kids dashing between hiding spots and comparing finds.

There were also lessons for next time. For the youngest children, even simplified charts were a challenge; future activities for them might focus entirely on verbal and pictorial observations. For older kids, the paper cutouts were a little too easy to spot (3D models or camouflaged props might make the search more exciting). And while I covered lionfish impacts broadly, I realized I missed an opportunity to connect the discussion more explicitly to St. Thomas in the wrap-up.

This was more than just a fun morning. By grounding the activity in a local issue, I could show the kids that science isn’t something that happens “somewhere else” by “other people” but it’s something they can do, about their own ocean, right now. And for me, it was deeply rewarding to bring my research full circle, from fieldwork in Honduras to a home in St. Thomas, with kids who might one day be the scientists, divers, or conservation leaders protecting these reefs.

I’m grateful to the staff at Nana Baby Children’s Home for welcoming me back and helping make the session possible. Thank you to the children for their energy, curiosity, and fearless questions.