UGA Marine Extension faculty member and marine biologist Mare Timmons recently hosted a workshop in Savannah for elementary school teachers and their students to develop an environmental stewardship program on living shorelines for their classrooms. Living shorelines help protect shorelines from erosion, safeguard coastal properties and provide habitat for marine life and wildlife.
Teachers brought their students to UGA Marine Extension’s living shoreline salt marsh where they learned how to harvest Spartina alterniflora seeds to grow in their classroom. They will return in the spring for replanting and replenishing of the living shoreline.
Mary Hannan, a teacher at May Howard Elementary school, was so excited about the workshop that she brought the entire third-grade class of 100 students. Students had a hands-on and feet-in experience working on the shoreline, and, according to Timmons, many third graders were curious and excited. A Seeds to Shoreline sub award from South Carolina Sea Grant provided funding for this workshop.
Students learn about living shorelines from UGA Marine Extension faculty member, Mare Timmons, and their elementary school teacher, Mary Hannan.