Once referred to as dark, damp and sometimes spooky places, it is now known that wetlands are rich, productive and beautiful areas. More than 70 percent of plant and animal species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in North Carolina depend on wetlands for survival. Wetlands protect coastal water quality by absorbing rainfall, recharging groundwater and filtering pollutants out of runoff. They hold back floodwaters, reduce storm surges, and lessen erosion, protecting property from hurricanes and storms. Recognizing these vital functions, the North Carolina Coastal Federation has created an opportunity for students to experience these wetland wonders and take an active role in their restoration.
     An idea originally implemented in Florida by Tampa Bay Watch, the Student Wetland Nursery Program was adapted by the North Carolina Coastal Federation for North Carolina's climate and standard course of study. While participating in this program, students learn about wetlands and water quality through hands-on activities, construct wetland nurseries at schools, cultivate wetland plants from seed, and then use these plants to restore coastal shorelines in their communities. Over 200 students from at least seven schools are involved each year in the Wetland Nursery Program thanks to Restore America's Estuaries, the Captain Planet Foundation, the Carlson Foundation, NC Sea Grant, and SeaWord/Busch Gardens. Over the past five years, students have successfully replanted 7 acres of marshland with over 62,000 marsh plants.

Timeline for Student Nursery Program:

• August: Workshops are held in Wetland Nursery schools for cooperating teachers. These workshops include an introduction to the wetland nursery program, offer a timeline for lessons during the school year, and provide an overview of classroom curriculum taught by NCCF's Education Coordinator.
• September-October: First classroom lesson is conducted. Topics include salt marsh ecology and the importance of its key plant Spartina Alterniflora, or smooth cordgrass.
• November-December: Nursery is built on school property or maintenance is conducted on existing nurseries. Under the guidance of NCCF education staff, students actively participate in construction and maintenance throughout the year of the 16' x 16' nurseries.
• January: Second classroom lesson on Spartina Alterniflora is conducted, and the students set up their seed germination experiments. Using hypotheses to determine whether different seed storage techniques are effective in replicating natural dormancy and germination processes, each class collects data for 90 days.
• March: Students transfer their grasses to their outdoor nursery. The students oversee the nursery daily for eight weeks, maintaining suitable water levels and overall plant health. NCCF meets with students monthly and brings additional plants for their nurseries, which the students eventually will use for restoration site plantings.
• May: Students transport all plants to a site selected by NCCF's Senior Scientist for restoration. Student participation in the full workday includes planting grasses and conducting water quality, biological and physical monitoring activities. This data establishes the baseline from which NCCF staff will evaluate the success of the project.

    During the 2006-2007 school year, eight schools from North Carolina have been involved in the Wetland Nursery Program.  Check the below links often for updated pictures and other information.  These links include some pictures and basic school information.

• Broad Creek Middle School: Newport
• Friends School of Wilmington: Wilmington
• Gramercy Christian School: Newport
• Halifax Academy: Roanoke Rapids
• JH Rose High School: Greenville
• Roland-Grise Middle School: Wilmington
• Smyrna Elementary: Smyrna
• Tiller Middle School: Morehead City
• Wrightsville Beach Elementary: Wrightsville Beach

     If you are interested in learning more about NCCF's educational opportunities for students, please contact Sarah Phillips, Education Coordinator at 252-393-8185.