Martinez Watershed Rangers Clean Up Mountain View Park
Students from John Muir Elementary School in Martinez walked from their school to Mountain View Park to get outside, connect with nature and take action for the environment.
Students from John Muir Elementary School in Martinez walked from their school to Mountain View Park to get outside, connect with nature and take action for the environment.
Each of our student Environmentalists begins their KIDS for the BAY program with a Watershed Scavenger Hunt activity to help them connect with nature on their school campus and explore the wonders of their watershed. Third graders in Mr. Marco’s class at Lincoln Elementary School in Oakland couldn’t wait to get outside and explore the local watershed, right on their school campus!
Thirty years ago, KIDS for the BAY joined forces with Dover Elementary School and the City of San Pablo to lead a creek cleanup at the local community park. Since the first cleanup, we have hosted this event every year with help from school students and their families. This year’s 30th Annual Wildcat Creek Cleanup was a huge success! KIDS for the BAY (KftB) staff, students and partner teachers, alongside representatives from the City of San Pablo, and high-school environmental leaders from Earth Team, removed 1,040 pounds of trash from Davis Park and Wildcat creek. That’s over half a ton!
Second grade students at Verde Elementary School explored Wildcat Creek, which flows past their school, and discussed the importance of healthy waterways, and how they are all connected to the nature around them as part of a KIDS for the BAY- Richmond Outdoors Coalition partnership program.
“Why do people litter so much!” exclaimed Adham, a fourth grade student at Ford Elementary School in Richmond, as he extracted an Oreo wrapper and a plastic Coca-Cola bottle cap from a shrub growing near Wildcat Creek. The problem of plastic trash pollution in our neighborhoods, creek waterways, the bay, and the ocean is growing, and KIDS for the BAY Environmentalists are taking action!
KftB Educator Sakshi Srivastava met with Student Ambassadors from Madera Elementary School in El Cerrito to learn more about their experiences with our Watershed Action Program. In conversations with Ms. Sakshi, Madera Student Ambassadors shared how their KftB program has impacted their journey as Environmentalists and leaders. Students also shared their concerns about the environment, as well as what gives them hope.
KIDS for the BAY (KftB) is excited to be a bigger part of the solution to reducing plastic pollution and microplastics in 2024. Our young Environmentalists have recorded the types and amounts of plastic pollution collected in school neighborhood, creek, bay and ocean cleanups for many years. Now we’re going a step further by tracking the brands of plastic trash they collect, as part of a Plastic Pollution Audit based on the Break Free From Plastic Guidelines. By sharing our students’ data with Earth Island Institute, our fiscal sponsor, we are helping to bring the first major lawsuit of its kind against the biggest plastic polluting corporations.
KIDS for the BAY (KftB) celebrated the 29th annual Wildcat Creek Cleanup event on October 14, 2023 in collaboration with the City of San Pablo and local schools.The cleanup inspired a turnout of more than 30 volunteers, including three teachers from Dover Elementary School, whose enthusiasm for the cleanup helped inspire their students to take action.This event helped our young Environmentalists, teachers and parents alike recognize the importance of caring for their local greenspaces and their potential to make an impact!
Incredible Environmentalists in San Pablo lead their own neighborhood cleanups to participate in this year’s Covid-safe Annual Wildcat Creek Cleanup!