Like Tokyo, other cities, both small and large, typically have numerous universities with dedicated faculties of scientists. By using portals such as Citizen Science and SciStarter, teachers can reach beyond the four walls of their classroom. The incredible experience of forging a relationship with a local scientist can easily begin via a cordial phone call or introductory e-mail. Making contact with International Pellet Watch (IPW) lead scientist Dr. Hideshige Takada opened this author's eyes to the reality that scientists are often eager to share their work with those who are genuinely interested. IPW, a project that monitors persistent organic pollutants (POPs) using beached plastic resin pellets, strongly supported the curricular objectives of the coastal field ecology unit for the author's grade 7 science classes. The connection he made with Dr. Takada helped transform his seventh graders from enthusiastic students into budding science researchers. (Contains 4 figures, 2 resources, and 5 online resources.)