Wetland Stewards

Protecting the health of the watershed begins by creating a connection between the community and the wetlands. In the Wetland Stewards program, we train high school students to serve as mentors to middle and elementary school students through their local after-school programs. Together they explore the wetlands through both field trips and classroom-based activities. Presented in collaboration with the TEACH Project at the Pájaro Valley Unified School District, this program is designed to foster the next generation of environmental leaders.

Wetland Wonders

Wetland Wonders is a year-long program for fifth-graders that revolves around hands-on, student-lead exploration of the question “How healthy are the wetlands?” Student scientists design their own investigations, then collect and analyze data that helps answer this question. This program is designed around the experiential learning model, and supports Next Generation Science Standards.

Climate Corps Leadership Institute

The Climate Corps Leadership Institute provides high school students in Watsonville with the experiences, tools, training, and confidence to become community leaders in climate action. In this year-long program, student interns gain hands-on experience in climate change, urban forestry, habitat restoration, climate justice, community science monitoring, daily stewardship actions, leadership, and community activism.

Project Tierra Community Science Monitoring Program

Project Tierra is a community-science program that engages students and community volunteers in collecting and recording environmental science data in order to monitor the overall biodiversity and health of the Watsonville wetlands. While the program’s environmental focus produces data---for the students as well as the larger scientific community—on water quality and on plant and bird populations, the field-based research also increases the community’s understanding of the importance of biodiversity, sustainable land management practices, and environmental stewardship.

Green Careers Middle School Program

Green Careers Middle School Program

Our Green Careers Program is a virtual introduction for grades 6-8 to a dynamic and exciting series of local environmental careers. From managing land for future generations to helping grow plants that feeds the world, our particpants take students on a journey through their journey to get to where they are now, what their days look like, and how their jobs are helping their communities and planet, as well as offering advice for anyone who wants to do what they do.