During the last school year, Coastkeeper brought thousands of Orange County students out of the classroom and into the watershed through our no-cost, hands-on education programs. Many classes participate in a single lab or field trip, while others dive deeper, joining us several times over the course of a full academic year.
One of those long-term partnerships was with Michelle Dimeo’s AP Environmental Science class at Santiago High School in Garden Grove. Thanks to support from the California State Parks’ Outdoor Equity Grants Program (OEP), these students took part in a comprehensive WHALES (Watershed Heroes – Actions Linking Education to Stewardship) experience—immersing themselves in Orange County’s diverse ecosystems and learning how to become active stewards of the environment.
Students enjoying a hike in Black Star Canyon and a tour of OCWD’s Groundwater Replenishment System
State Parks’ OEP was created to improve the health and wellness of Californians by expanding access to outdoor learning, recreation, service, and career pathways. It’s designed to ensure residents from underserved communities have meaningful opportunities to connect with the state’s beautiful natural spaces. Unfortunately, due to the State of California’s budget deficit, future funding for OEP is uncertain; Coastkeeper hopes to see it reinstated one day.
Over the past school year, Dimeo’s class of 24 curious and committed students joined us for five unique field trips, two in-class lessons, and a hands-on water quality lab using samples from Mile Square Park. Here’s a snapshot of where their journey took them:
- Conducted a Marine Life Inventory at the Back Bay Science Center with California Department of Fish and Wildlife staff
- Explored Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve with the Bolsa Chica Conservancy
- Discovered tidepool ecosystems at Heisler Park in Laguna Beach with Laguna Ocean Foundation docents
- Hiked Black Star Canyon with a local ecological expert from Naturalist for You
- Toured regional water infrastructure with OC San and the Orange County Water District
- Learned about careers in advocacy with OC Environmental Justice
Students exploring Laguna Beach tidepools, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, and Newport’s Back Bay Science Center
Repeated exposure to Orange County’s natural spaces helps students build a lasting, personal connection to the environment that often leads to lifelong stewardship. As field trips and outdoor learning opportunities have declined dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic, programs like WHALES are more vital than ever.
“This was such a great year with WHALES. From the initial watershed lecture and water quality labs to the final careers talk, students received so much practical information,” said Dimeo. “The field trip experiences themselves were fantastic, and it is one of the students’ favorite parts of AP Environmental Science. The benefits to my students are immeasurable.”
We’re incredibly proud of these students and excited to see what they do next. Many WHALES participants go on to study environmental issues, get involved in advocacy, and even intern with us here at Coastkeeper.
When students have repeated access to the outdoors and real-world science, they don’t just learn about the environment—they learn how to protect it. That’s what programs like WHALES are all about.
Click here to support our education program and empower future WHALES students.
