Grade 4 Estuary Field Study:

Students travel to the Emma Tripp Landing on East Beach Road, where they rotate through three, 20-minute, teaching stations.  They collect physical data on the site (wind speed, air temperature, water temperature, etc.), gather plant life on a quick scavenger hunt and get the opportunity to observe some of the fish, shellfish and other marine life close-up.  They travel over to the open ocean at Gooseberry Neck to compare the two sites.  By participating on the trip in the fall & spring, students also note seasonal changes at these two coastal habitats.

Learning about plants in the estuary

Grade 5 Dune Restoration Project:

This exciting project gives students the opportunity to help restore a damaged section of the dunes at the Westport Town Beach.  For the last six years, the fifth graders at Westport Middle School have planted approximately 6,000 beach grass seedlings as part of this field study.  Students also explore the unique plants of the backdune, interdune, bog and foredune and record the data they collect in field journals.

Planting dune grass in neat rows

Measuring wind speed and atmospheric conditions

High School Adopt-A-Watershed Program:

Students from Westport High School conduct an in-depth, stream ecology study over the course of several weeks on two tributaries of the Westport River.  They gain experience collecting water quality data, measure the physical characteristics of the streams, and sample for aquatic life.  After analyzing the information they collect, they write a report that addresses the water quality issues of the streams.  This program includes both classroom visits by the education coordinator and time with students in the field.  The curriculum can be easily adapted for other schools and grade levels.