Students Protecting the Coast

ACORN originally partnered with the Pacific Community Charter School  (PCCS) during the 2012-13 school year to develop this program focused on coastal conservation and land stewardship. The initial aim of the project was to encourage local and federal support for transferring the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands to the California Coastal National Monument (which happened!). During this campaign we created a slideshow and photo book with the students to demonstrate our support and highlight the students’ work.

Since that time we have continued to focus on field studies with students at the Point Arena-Stornetta Public Lands through continued collaboration with PCCS and the BLM Ukiah Field Office. During the 2014-15 school year we registered the public lands as an official Hands on the Land site. The K-1 and 4-5 classes developed a bird brochure based on their observations and field studies. In 2021, we developed a Naturalist Guide for the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands and Marine Protected Areas.

We continue to further develop this environmental stewardship program with locally-based projects that focus on issues such as stormwater runoff, coastal cleanup, trail maintenance and community outreach.

Order a copy of our Point Arena-Stornetta Lands CCNM Campaign Books:

  • Students Protecting the Coast, 1st edition. Student watercolors, photographs and letters to the White House in support of adding the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands to the California Coastal National Monument. Copies presented to Congressman Huffman for delivering to the President and First Lady. (2013)
  • Students Protecting the Coast, 2nd edition. Second edition copy of student watercolors and photographs on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands. A THANK YOU to President Obama for adding the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands to the California Coastal National Monument. Copies were hand-delivered by students to Congressman Huffman, Secretary Jewell and the White House Council on the Environment. (2014)

20140719_140335

To support this program, ACORN has received Hands on the Land grants from the National Environmental Education Foundation and has been awarded funding from the Community Foundation of Mendocino County’s Matthew Coleman Fund for Environmental Education Fund and the Community Enrichment Grant Program. The annual Waves & Whales Trail Run also supports Students Protecting the Coast. Fundraising for this program is ongoing and grants are continually being sought to ensure our environmental stewardship project continues.

Thank you to Better Place Forests and Mendocino Redwood Company for their contributions to this program!