Education

The Education Program of the Grand Bay NERR is an integrated program of life-long learning opportunities designed to educate a variety of audiences on the importance of wisely caring for estuarine (coastal) resources. Creating informed coastal stewards requires us to first instill a sense of place (a personal attachment) for our coastal areas within the members of our audiences. We do this through our K-16 and Community Education Programs. In these programs, we pass on information gathered by our scientists and other researchers to our audiences through the use of hands-on learning methods both inside classrooms and out in the field. Whenever possible, we use the many habitats of the reserve as “living laboratories and classrooms” so that our audiences can experience first-hand all the reserve’s unique biological, geological, historical and cultural wonders. These activities help reinforce our message that everyone plays a key role in keeping our coastal environments healthy and productive. (Picture by Jennifer Buchanan)