NESTA/NOAA
Aug 1, 2025
Project EEASY: Education and Engagement to Active Stewardship with Youth Environmental Alliance (YEA)
Project EEASY-Education and Engagement to Active Stewardship with YEA
Abstract: Working in partnership with three Title 1 schools (5 different grade levels), local cities and a State Park and with funding provided by the NOAA Planet Stewards program, Youth Environmental Alliance (YEA) created Project EEASY-Education and Engagement to Active Stewardship with YEA- where 286 students and 25 teachers found it EEASY to be Eco-friendly and enact change for the environment and themselves. The goal of this project was to empower students from underserved communities with the knowledge, skills and abilities to restore vital habitats that they rely on for food, clean air and water and direct protection from climate-based issues and to succeed in STEM careers. The students’ efforts of removing 57 lbs. of marine debris and 2300 square feet of invasive plants, followed by the planting of 1484 native plants and 9 trees and mangroves in a dune, wetland or mangrove system, helped restore 17,828 square feet of shoreline, while instilling a greater sense of environmental stewardship and understanding (38%-180% knowledge gains achieved) that each one of them can make a difference. We know they felt empowered based on their testimonials and the changes in behaviors reported on our post-event surveys, where between 48%-100% of students reported either following up with eco-actions at home or changing behaviors based on what they experienced as NOAA Planet Stewards.