The Coastal Watershed Council implemented education opportunities #1-3 as listed in the Application Guide through its outdoor program and partnerships.

Education opportunity #1 (instruction in arts, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics that connects nature experiences, or environmental stewardship) was achieved through water quality monitoring activities and biodiversity studies as well as art projects themed on scientific illustration and ecosystem food webs. These activities allowed students to connect art and science with their experiences in nature.

Education opportunity #2 (foster stewardship of the environment using curriculum pursuant to Public Resources Code, Division 34, Part 4: Statewide Environmental Education) was achieved through action projects focused mainly on the abatement of litter along the San Lorenzo River to conserve ecosystem health and the beauty of the natural space. Participants were excited and engaged while using trash grabbers, gloves, and buckets to collect and inventory litter along the Santa Cruz Riverwalk with a goal of sharing their results with friends and family.

Education opportunity #3 (curriculum that is aligned to the content standards for California public schools adopted by the State Board of Education) was achieved by aligning program activities with Next Generation Science Standards including investigating life cycles of living organisms (3-LS1-1), habitat conditions and their ability to support different types of life (3-LS4-3), structure and function of different plants and animals (4-LS1-1), and observing the effects of weathering and erosion (4-ESS2-1). The program also aligns with California’s Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs) through which students explored Principle #1 that people depend on natural systems for goods and ecosystem services and Principle #2 that people influence natural systems. Students engaged in conversations about the San Lorenzo River as our drinking water source and examined how their actions can either positively or negatively impact the river ecosystem.

This program integrated all four education opportunities listed under the OEP definition of education. (1) Students used binoculars, dip nets, field guides, and other environmental science tools to identify and observe San Lorenzo River species. These experiences are combined with opportunities to create scientific illustrations on paper or in the sand with sticks to demonstrate an understanding of wildlife diversity and habitat. (2) To steward the environment, students used trash grabbers and buckets to remove litter from the Riverwalk path and the banks of the San Lorenzo River, resulting in hundreds of pieces of litter removed from the ecosystem. (3) Activities for this program were pulled from CWC’s curriculum which is aligned with California’s Next Generation Science Standards and supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). (4) All students contributed to ongoing conversations about healthy lifestyles, environmental health, and resource conservation during this program.

Coastal Watershed Council partnerships include Nueva Vista Community Resources staff and volunteers, communities of Beach Flats and Lower Ocean neighborhoods (which are underserved communities with most residents being of BIPOC, Spanish-speaking, and/or low-income identities), the City of Santa Cruz and Roaring Camp Railroads.

The partnerships between the Coastal Watershed Council and Nueva Vista Community Resources have found success in connecting community members with outdoor spaces along the San Lorenzo River. The San Lorenzo River provides a space for community members to embrace all the benefits that spending time in nature provides, close to home. Our partnership makes enjoying and learning about the San Lorenzo River more accessible in many ways, one being that no transportation is required for our walking field trips from the Nueva Vista community center to the banks of the San Lorenzo River (activities in the community).

The Coastal Watershed Council’s (CWC) relationship with Nueva Vista Community Resources (NVCR) continues to be strong and impactful, as does CWC’s ongoing relationship with Roaring Camp Railroads. New partners include The Jams, CWC’s Artists-in-Residence, who provided outreach and opportunities for the Nueva Vista community to connect to nature through art. During the first week of each cohort, staff from the City of Santa Cruz Climate Action Program provided and facilitated a lotería bingo game that helped students connect with different elements of our changing landscape. Shmuel Thaler, photographer for the Santa Cruz Sentinel newspaper, who took incredible photos of students exploring the San Lorenzo River in waders and published them on the periodical's front page.

This program’s success is owed to a strong and growing relationship with our community partners at Nueva Vista Community Resources. Through continuous feedback, collaborative brainstorming, in-person and virtual check-ins and outreach, CWC maintained clarity about the community needs, wants, and goals for the program.

Challenges include the state of the San Lorenzo River during the summer program period. With the formation of a lagoon in the San Lorenzo River Estuary during the dry season, water levels and water quality can change drastically day by day. CWC rose to these challenges by leading walking field trips when the river levels were high instead of establishing program activities at the small riverbank beach that becomes inundated in high tide lagoon conditions. On days with a more accessible water level, CWC staff brought waders for the students to wear in the river which provided fun opportunities for youth to “dress like a river scientist” and experience the sensations of being in the San Lorenzo River while staying dry and safe.

One lesson learned is how important it is to have Spanish-speaking staff implementing the program. CWC is proud to be reaching the Spanish-speaking community of Santa Cruz. CWC's Environmental Educator Maria Rocha is a fluent Spanish speaker and has ensured that our written materials are translated appropriately for the specific Spanish dialect spoken in the Santa Cruz area. On the Nature Area Trip, directions were provided in English and Spanish at all times. All other CWC staff members speak limited Spanish and continue to practice speaking Spanish while learning from community members. Throughout this reporting period, CWC has been challenged by staffing turnover within Nueva Vista Community Resources, CWC’s partnering organization. Thanks to CWC’s diligent recordkeeping, open channels of communication, and adaptability, these challenges have been easily mitigated and have led to a stronger partnership.