Thanks to a grant from NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Agency, the Cachuma Resource Conservation District and the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center has teamed up to administer the B-WET program, an environmental education program that promotes locally relevant and experiential  learning. On February 26^th, the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes Preserve habitat benefited from this program when 150 fifth graders from Mary Buren Elementary School participated in a restoration field trip. Students applied the lessons they had learned in their classroom program to the outdoor project by spending the day investigating nature, planting native daisies, and identifying and pulling invasive plants.

By the end of the day, each student had reinforced their knowledge of important environmental terms, such as restoration, estuary, invasive, native, and more. Using and understanding these terms have not only taught the students the importance of their local environment, but also created a new found appreciation for science. This environmental and science-based program has proved as a beneficial stimulant for children’s interests in natural sciences and education.

Pictured above are 50 of the 150 students pulling invasive ice plant. On the right one of the student is on the field trip with his pullings.