“There is something magical about watching a child experience the ocean for the first time.  No lesson of mine could ever compete with the moment a dolphin surfaces and a group of kids hear it breathe. I will forever remain humbled by my role as facilitator to the greater lesson manifest through active connections with nature.”  Chris Crolley, CEO of Coastal Expeditions

 

The kindergarten grade of Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts Elementary School took a boat trip today that launched The Coastal Expeditions Foundations’ new Outside In program. Outside In will work with the whole current kindergarten grade for six years, through to graduation from 5th grade, supplementing their STEAM curriculum with in and out of the classroom environmental education provided at no cost to the school. Along with experiential lessons, students will focus on a sustainability project appropriate to their grade level. The overarching goal of Outside In is to improve standardized test scores in science, foster environmental stewardship, develop confidence being on the water and encourage overall happiness in being outside. Measurement is an intrinsic part of this pilot program in an effort to evaluate program efficacy and scale this program to other schools.

 

“With nearly 30,000 students in Charleston County demonstrating economic need, we are enthusiastic about creating a program that can provide experiential environmental education to a population that would otherwise not have access,” said Karen Monahan, Executive Director of the Foundation.  Added Katie Morrison, Director of Education, “Research has demonstrated that environmental education has a lasting impact, not only on academic performance, but on cognitive and emotional development as well. We are very grateful to have the Sanders-Clyde partnership in order to explore ways to apply this knowledge and learn even more.” 

 

During the boat ride, along with other wildlife, the students were treated to a viewing of an osprey nest with newly hatched chicks. Students, many of whom have never been on a boat before, learned about Lowcountry wildlife and estuaries and became more familiar with vocabulary words that describe our ecosystem. In addition to the boat ride students also experienced an education session with the Center for Birds of Prey at the dock and a nature walk along the path to the boat launch.

Boat trips to Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary are being planned for all grades at Sanders-Clyde at no-cost thanks to a generous grant from Audubon South Carolina made possible through a National Fish and Wildlife grant. 

“Sanders-Clyde Creative Arts Elementary School is so excited for the opportunity to work with The Coastal Expeditions Foundation,” said Lucy McCann, STEAM Teacher at Sanders-Clyde. “These programs will allow our students more exposure to the habitats that surround our community and the greater Charleston Area.  We hope that this ongoing relationship will encourage the respect for and love of our beautiful natural world.” 

The first year of the Outside In program has been made possible by generous donations from BP, the Asher Mills Fund and by individual donors in the community. The Coastal Expeditions Foundation is looking for sponsorship for next year and beyond and is actively seeking grants. Parties interested in funding this program can reach out to info@coastalexpeditionsfoundation.org or calling 843-884-7684.