S.C. Sea Grant Consortium
A salt marsh and tidal creek with trees in the distance.

S.C. Sea Grant Education Program

More than half of the current workforce in marine-related fields will soon be eligible for retirement. There is a high demand for trained marine science professionals as well as a workforce skilled in STEM (science-technology-engineering-math) disciplines.

Marine science and STEM education for K-12 students is one of the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium’s priority areas. Our focus is helping teachers incorporate ocean science and coastal ecology into their lessons through educator training, resources, and education programs.

Education Specialists

Elizabeth Vernon (E.V.) Bell

Education and Outreach Manager

Morgan Treon

Marine Education Specialist

Current Education Projects

Three young Black boys plant Spartina in a muddy area of salt marsh.

From Seeds to Shoreline Student Salt Marsh Restoration Program

From Seeds to Shoreline® is South Carolina’s only salt marsh restoration program designed for K – 12 students and teachers.

This year-long program engages participating schools with cultivating and transplanting Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) to designated areas along the state’s coastline.

Charleston Community-Science Salt Marsh Restoration Program

The Community Science Salt Marsh Restoration and Monitoring Project engages communities to support habitat resiliency and ecosystem services throughout the urbanized watershed in Charleston County, S.C. Volunteers participate in salt marsh restoration by creating oyster reefs and cultivating and transplanting Spartina alterniflora.

Volunteers plant seedlings in a salt marsh.
A group of educators learning in a salt marsh.

Palmetto Environmental Education Certification

PEEC is a training for K-12 educators designed to advance environmental literacy in South Carolina.

This two-year course equips educators with the skills and knowledge for effective environmental education throughout the state and provides a professional certification.

Professional Development Programs for Educators