Bay Grasses in Classes

Empowering youth in wetland restoration

Tampa Bay Watch’s Bay Grasses in Classes (BGIC) program aims to facilitate youth involvement in habitat restoration efforts by allowing students to work side-by–side with local scientists to help restore the Tampa Bay watershed. At participating schools, students help to create a wetland nursery where they plant, maintain, and harvest estuarine wetland plants to be replanted into targeted coastal areas. Throughout the school year, state standard-aligned educational curriculum is offered in conjunction with our service learning projects in order to provide critical knowledge and promote environmental stewardship.

Why school plantings?

Planting activities give students an opportunity to take an active role in restoring the environment while promoting environmental and community stewardship.

The BGIC program provides a regular source of native wetland plants for use in habitat restoration projects around Tampa Bay.

Providing field trips in conjunction with classroom projects and lesson plans encourages student engagement and provides a more holistic, integrated approach to teaching environmental sciences.

Benefits of coastal wetland plants

Shoreline Shields

Stabilizes shorelines and protects against erosion.

Marine Nurseries

Offers a thriving haven for fish and aquatic life.

Storm Buffers

Absorbs wave energy from storms.

Eco Filters

Filters pollutants and marine debris from entering our waterways.

How does it work?

The BGIC program allows students to be involved in each step of the process, from constructing and planting the nursery to transplanting their nursery-raised salt marsh at a restoration site. The students return to the nursery to split and re-plant the remaining grasses to start the process again.

The Planting Process

Harvest & build the nursery

Plant the nursery

Monitor growth

Transplant to restoration site

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Recycle & repeat

Check out our BGIC resource page to view previous plantings and additional information about the program.

Pinellas County:
Canterbury School of Florida
Lakewood High School
Richard O. Jacobson Technical High School
Shorecrest Preparatory School

Hillsborough County Schools:
Bell Creek Academy
Brandon High School
Channelside Academy of Math & Science
East Bay High School
Literacy Leadership Tech Academy- Tampa and South Bay campuses

👉 Take our questionnaire to determine if a BGIC nursery is an option for your school.

Questions? Email Tara Kok, Restoration Specialist and BGIC program lead: [email protected]

Native Planting Program

Community Wetland Nursery

The Bay Grasses in Classes program depends on the generous support of the Tampa Bay community. By sponsoring a nursery, you will provide a source of native wetland plants for use in habitat restoration projects while giving students valuable hands-on experience in habitat restoration activities. Not only do these efforts support science education, they also foster a new generation of environmental stewards.

In addition to the value this program provides to the community, sponsorship includes a number of recognition and branding benefits. If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring the Bay Grasses in Classes program, contact Molly Robison [email protected].

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