This week’s ECN local-project spotlight features St. Andrews Episcopal School in Fort Pierce, FL. According to a church press release, St. Andrews received a $8,600 grant for “funding of staff time for the Living Shoreline Project of the Indian River Lagoon.”
A story in the local newspaper TCPalm reported, “This grant will support the academy’s Living Shoreline Project. Seventh through 12 grade students, along with St. Andrew’s partners, will construct 350 feet of living shoreline along the academy’s waterfront property. Living shorelines will consist of living shoreline reefs, seagrass plantings and native shoreline vegetation.”
“Students will build reefs of different substrate types (oyster shell, coquina rock, concrete modules) to compare restoration metrics (% oyster cover, oyster density, associated species) among substrate types.”
According to Suzanne Barry, Head of Schools, “In addition to the environmental benefits, our students will gain an understanding of how action can facilitate positive change. Our Living Shoreline Project combines science, technology, engineering and math into a one of a kind learning opportunity.”
Full disclosure: ECN’s new volunteer deputy editor was a member of the committee that awarded these grants. Both volunteer editors are now volunteers on the task force that will administer the next round of grants.
Episcopal Climate News 
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