Students in grades k-6 will engage in 100 outdoor education experiences with community partners in the waimanalo watershed

The Malama Honua Public Charter School Foundation will deliver outdoor education experiences and watershed education curriculum development under a $125,000 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Project Grant awarded on August 1, 2021. Funded through NOAA's Office for Coastal Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act, the project will engage K-6 students in 100 experiential learning opportunities in the Waimānalo watershed in Hawaii. Teachers and community partners will collaboratively produce place-based, inquiry-driven curriculum to teach scientific concepts. Students will complete 75 capstone watershed projects working with community organizations for over 4,800 staff hours to establish lifelong stewardship of the local watershed. The integrated, experience-driven program aims to increase watershed understanding and care among participants per the goals of the $11.473 million CFDA program supporting coastal environmental quality and economic growth projects.

Teachers and community partners will collaboratively produce integrated culture, place, and inquiry based curriculum that motivates students to authentically learn about scientific phenomena. The program's design which integrates culture, place, community, and science through student driven projects creates a meaningful watershed educational experience that increases the students' understanding and their motivation to continue to take care of their local watershed in years to come. Student-community relationships will be established and fostered to promote lifelong learning and dedication to watershed resilience through the development of 75 unique student-driven capstone watershed projects where 7TH & 8TH grade students work alongside community partner organizations for a total of over 4,800 man hours.