Scituate High School’s environmental science and oceanography students embarked on a field trip exploring coastal ecology in and around their community. The NSRWA partnered with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) to engage students in meaningful outdoor discovery and a field study that aligns with their interests. Through a hands-on approach, the students of Scituate participated in activities and discussions surrounding coastal processes, estuarine ecology, pertinent environmental issues, and human impact along our coast. Traveling to several locations around town, students witnessed and explored direct interactions between human development and natural coastal processes. Locations and topics of interest included a dam removal site and herring run at Bound Brook, Musquashicut Pond and the impact of its tidal gate, and the coastal and salt marsh ecology at Peggotty Beach.
The purpose of this program is to engage interested and passionate students in topics they are concerned about. Students are also able to meet people who have made these areas of study into life-long careers. We hope to encourage students to be active in their environmental and coastal interests going forward.
“Not only are these students exploring places and participating in activities that are of interest to them, they also get to see professionals like Jason Burtner with CZM actively making a difference in their community.” Says NSRWA’s Environmental Educator Brian Taylor “We are excited to see these students make a difference in their future.”
A special thanks to the CZM South Shore Region and the Town of Scituate for helping make this field trip a huge success. The NSRWA is looking to offer more programs like this to other schools in the South Shore region. For more information, contact Brian Taylor at Brian@nsrwa.org or call 781-659-8168.