The Digital Bus has been providing hands-on learning opportunities for the youth of Maui since 2004. With the help of grants from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Digital Bus has been providing Maui’s K-12 students with a unique opportunity to become personally involved and see how science can be used to study and improve the environment.

Projects include:

• Stewardship program that engages elementary school students by having them monitor seashore pollution and marine debris and measure its effect on animals such as sea turtles, shore birds, and Hawaiian monk seals.
• Field-based studies monitoring watershed systems using tools such as global positioning systems, geographic information systems, water testing equipment, and digital cameras.
• Stream monitoring projects for students from grades 4-12.

A new “green bus” will debut in Maui in 2010 and will feature solar panels and biodiesel power.