Have a contest and give a reef tank to the school that wins?

[Spinner]

What do you pep's think about having some kind of contest for LA schools and the winner would get a SCR reef or fowlr tank? Maybe a food drive or clothes as the holla...days are coming here soon. We would give them a complete system set up but it would be on them to keep it up after that. Give me your thoughts.... ideas good and bad maybe we can make something good happen

Thanks,

 

[El Dude]

That's a GREAT idea. But the inevitable question arises...who is donating the system? Also is this involving ALL Southern California schools? Sounds like we would need to think long and hard about this one...

 

[lurking]

Someone would need to spearhead and contact reef related companys explaining what we are doing. We will have a better chance of soliciting donations if there is a website invloved that will let the donating companys place an advertising banner on it in exchange for donations. I am sure I can wrangle some lighting for whatever tank etc. we get from a certain Southern California Lighting company.

 

[lowbudget]

who is going to maintain the tank. got to draw up all these legal stuff if tank breaks leak or maybe drown someone

 

[cymaster007]

I think its a great idea. I also think the execution would be somewhat hard for long term success.

Not likely they will keep it long-term. Someone would have to maintain it and be motivated to care about it & unless the school (or teacher) can afford the time & cost, it would be hard to keep on top of it.

Other issues- infrastructure & any safety requirements for the class room- GFCI requirements in a school? Kids/teenagers putting crap into the tank, overfeeding...etc.


You can do a frags 4 food ( or maybe "Coral 4 Clothes"? catchy title) kind of event. Our up front cost was about 150$ (not including the time put in to fragging & sponsor requests) but that turned into over 1000 cans of food.... I can help you with it if you want I have my sponsor contacts and template for donation requests....

 

[Spinner]

This is just the input needed everyone lets get input for awhile then see if we can put something together? I am not talking a 300 gallon system maybe a 60 cube or somthing? Maybe we pick one area of LA and if this works a larger area in the future?
A few years ago i built a homeless shelter here in Bakersfield and can tell you looking back it was some of the best times in my life. I built it for free(my time 1 1/2 years) but was given so many gifts that money can't buy
The web site is a great idea as we would want this set up simple and transparent for all envolved.
Let's let this run and see where it goes!!!!

We do need a spear head/heads and as stated it will be some work so if this is somthing you would like to do speak up

 

[reefapple]

Awesome, If you guys get something going Reefapple will donate an 18x18x18 cube tank. Fully plumbed with stand and sump.




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Thank you

Esau aka E-man

 

[Spinner]

That is good stuff reefapple we will bump this thread for a couple of weeks giving everyone a chance to read and have thoughts. Then.......................

 

[benjaminS]

If reefers wanted to donate coral who is picking it up
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[mark.a.smith405]

I live far from la but i would be happy to give money to this

 

[Spinner]

I believe we have some teachers here they could give us some good input on things.

Thanks everybody!!!!!!

 

[rayray]

Mace, I tried to donate my old 75g to a private preschool. I offered many easy to keep, low light frags, LR, and even to set it up. Then they asked about maintenance and the saltwater aspect of it was just too much for them. Ontop of that the cost of electricity, top off water, etc turned them off. So I thought about throwing in a year of free service and called around but I was looking at $1500 in addition to my time, equip and livestock. Long story short, the school kindly declined.

Maybe a high school science class can start a fowlr every year and break it down before the summer. That would me neat. In high school we were doing simple genetic engineering on bacteria, which we had to fundraise $250 each, but it was a project with an endpoint. Reefing is 24/7, 365days per year. Still, its a nice daydream to think you can spark that type of interest in a child.

 

[Spinner]

Hi rayray,

I hear what you saying.....well maybe if we have teachers on here and they would like to do something for their class.........Speak up....we could get enough used stuff that looks new to maybe do something low cost for the school year?

Good input!

 

[Six2seven]

The idea is a nice gesture and there are many good people on here that would donate. Ultimately it comes down to who will maintain the tank and are they dedicated to the tank even when school is on winter or summer break. If the tank will be broken down then it is not fair to the livestock. You won't find too many people who will want the responsibility.

I think Cy has a better proposition. A can food drive or fundraiser will help people or schools in need without giving them an inconvenient gift. Gumbi, insert that family guy video again lol


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[Clockwork John]

I would LOVE to see a small reef, or even a FOWLR, donated to a local high school... Probably the best way to do it would be to set it up so that it goes to, or at least is in the care of, a Marine Biology classroom... Use it to teach the kids about marine environments and ecosystems and whatnot. That way it would be an ongoing experiment that directly relates to the curriculum, rather than just another expense, maintenance requirement, and liability... Schools are pinching pennies everywhere they can in these tough economic times... I see it in my paycheck every month.

 

[red13]

I am currently working toward a teaching credential. I think this is a great idea, providing we find a teacher who is willing to put in the work. I plan to have tanks in my classroom when I finally finish the program and find a job. There are many possible learning experiences that can come from having tanks in the class. It is a lot of extra work for the teacher though. My Mom is a retired teacher who had a classroom full of critters and she spent many weeks and breaks in the classroom doing maintenance. I think the key is finding a teacher who has a passion for aquariums then working on donations.