Grasses IN Classes Connects Students with the Coast

The Littoral Society’s Beachgrasses in Classes program was in full swing this winter and spring! 

Beachgrasses in Classes is an incredible program that promotes community-based stewardship and helps students understand the important role that dunes play in protecting our coastline from storms and flooding. 

The Beachgrasses in Classes program begins with an interactive classroom lesson where students are introduced to dune ecology, American beachgrass, and the importance of both within the coastal ecosystem. The students then plant culms of American beachgrass in small cups and take care of them in their classroom for the next few weeks. 

In the early spring, students will bring their culms and plant them at a local beach, actively contributing to dune restoration. 

This year, the Littoral Society introduced students from Eatontown Memorial Middle School’s Environmental Club and students from Monmouth Beach School to the world of dune ecology. The students from Eatontown were able to restore part of the dune system at Bradley Beach, right near the Julie Schreck Maritime Forest that was built by the Society along with Monmouth County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The students not only contributed to dune restoration by planting native American beachgrass, but they also saw a well established and successful restoration project that has made a tremendous impact on the town.

The students from Monmouth Beach helped restore the dune system right in front of the Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion, a very popular spot for beach-goers in the summer. 
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The students were extremely enthusiastic and interested in their contributions to the local coastal environment. Students were discussing future plans to come back and visit the planting site to see how well the dune system developed and how their hard work paid off. It’s always inspiring to contribute to young people’s love and appreciation for their local environment, and the Beachgrasses in Classes program is a clear gateway to environmental stewardship.