Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies creates new educational programs, names director of education

New director Mechling worked for the Cape Cod National Seashore

The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS) will expand educational programs and names Jesse S. Mechling, director of marine education, to lead the way.

Prior to joining PCCS, Mechling worked for the Cape Cod National Seashore and Boston Harbor Islands National Park as an interpretive and education ranger, respectively.

“Through games, activities, investigations, and arts and crafts, children will discover the undersea world of Cape Cod.”

At PCCS, Mechling will create a new education model and develop educational activities for children and adults.  He will also continue PCCS’ successful seasonal lecture series and expand the current educational platform, working with schools using Massachusetts Current Curriculum Frameworks for Science and Technology/Engineering to develop in-class and field experiences for students and teachers.

A new program for school children, School Vacation Ocean Exploration, will launch in February.  PCCS will present two-hour programs, led by Mechling, from February 16th through February 19th, at locations throughout the Outer Cape. Mechling explains, “Through games, activities, investigations, and arts and crafts, children will discover the undersea world of Cape Cod.” 

Mechling brings over ten years experience working in education, marine policy and interpretation to the PCCS.  A Maryland native, Mechling has been vacationing on the Cape Cod since childhood.  He is a recipient of the prestigious John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship, during which, he worked for NOAA in their Ecosystem Goal Team office in Washington, D.C.  Mechling returned to New England to continue regional work with NOAA before moving to the National Park Service. 

Mechling holds a Bachelor of Arts from Colby College and a master’s in marine affairs from the University of Rhode Island.  He is an avid photographer and has been documenting the natural landscape and wildlife of Cape Cod through both photography and film for over ten years. 

To learn more about PCCS educational activities or to register for School Vacation Ocean Exploration, please contact Jesse S. Mechling, director of marine education at 508-487-3623 ext. 103 or email:  jmechling@coastalstudies.org.

Courtesy of PCCS.

The Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting marine mammals and ecosystems in the Gulf of Maine and beyond through applied research, education, public policy initiatives and management strategies. To learn more about our research, visit www.coastalstudies.org.