Dream Science Trips | Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge

Hi! My name is Theresa Oei, and my mom and I traveled to San Francisco and visited the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center and Alcatraz National Park.
On the first day, I was introduced to the numerous harbor seals, elephant seals, and California sea lions that are patients at the Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center. This is Astro, a stranded stellar sea lion receiving help from the center.
I helped make fish mush to feed a young harbor seal that had been separated from his parents. Although I was dying to hold the baby seal, I was glad to be able to help make his food, so that he might become healthy and strong.
This young seal is eating through a feeding tube. Once the seal is strong enough to survive on his own, he will be returned to his natural habitat.
I learned how to take a fecal sample from a harbor seal for testing in the lab. I was also able to observe blood tests and physical exams the Center performs. These tests are important for determining the health and well being of the patients.
That's not me doing laundry—this is how young harbor seals are weighed! The Marine Mammal Rehabilitation Center keeps records of seals' weights and measurements to determine the status of their health.
I loved feeding the brown-eyed, docile elephant seals by throwing fish into their pool. The Center also releases live fish into the pool to give seals the experience of catching fish on their own.
I got to meet Bravery, an emaciated and sickly elephant seal being cared for at the Center. I hope he gets better soon!
And this is Eddie, a California sea lion that was just moving in to his new pen on the day that I visited. I discovered that California sea lions are playful and exuberant and make loud barking noises.
After saying goodbye to my new marine mammal friends, we set sail for the famous Alcatraz Island! I was excited to visit Alcatraz Island. There is no fresh water on the island so it is an ideal nesting site for birds as there are no predators. So the island is not only an amazing historical resource, but a natural resource as well.
I learned that the most common bird found on Alcatraz Island is the extremely territorial western gull. They mate for life and produce two to three eggs every year. When a female seeks a mate, she approaches him in a nonthreatening bowed position. If he is interested, the male will regurgitate a piece of fish, which they both nibble. How romantic!
My favorite bird was the western gull chick, a gray ball of fluff with dark spots. As you can see in this picture, parent gulls are very protective of their offspring.
This is a colony of Brandt's cormorants on Alcatraz Island, which breed on the island’s rocky cliffs. Alcatraz is the only breeding colony site for Brandt's cormorants in San Francisco Bay.
We also took a behind-the-scenes tour of Alcatraz Prison with park ranger Benny Batom. We learned about the daily lives of the prisoners and some of the famous stories of Alcatraz.
We climbed a steep stairway to the guard's walkway, where the guards patrolled above the cells and kept an eye on the prisoners.
Exploring San Francisco with my mom, we took the opportunity to visit Muir Woods National Monument.
Muir Woods is home to the ancient giants, the California redwood tree. My mom and I took a three-mile hike through the redwood and Douglas fir forest. I have never been in such a beautiful forest. Despite the heat of the day, it was cool and quiet in the shade of the trees.
I had a wonderful experience in San Francisco. Thank you to all of the people at the National Park Service, Discovery Channel, and Science Services for making this trip possible.