As the 2013-2014 school year is coming to a close, I am surprised at how quickly this inaugural year of our EarthEcho Expeditions program has passed. With that in mind, I wanted to share just a few of the exciting environmental action projects that classrooms across the country have created and shared with the EarthEcho team. In Pennsylvania, students continue to work with the local conservation district to build riparian buffers and restore local streams. Students in Georgia have helped to establish a community-wide recycling program including a drive-through recycling station and some curbside recycling. At schools in California and Florida, teachers and students are planting organic gardens to share both the harvest and sustainable farming practices and with the school community. In Wisconsin, New Jersey, Florida, Virginia, and Ohio students have been monitoring waterways and creating campaigns to protect and restore their rivers and streams!

It’s been a fantastic first year and as we move into the 2014-2015 school year we are refining the EarthEcho Expeditions: Into the Dead Zone platform. To develop additional classroom materials we will be heading to South Florida this fall! While there I will travel from the “source to the sea” as we examine how the same pollutants that create dead zones are also a factor in the acidification of our oceans. From the Greater Everglades to the Florida Keys archipelago, I will convene with scientists and young people from around the world to examine the effects of eutrophication and acidification on Florida’s diverse ecosystems. Be sure to register at www.earthecho.org to receive the latest updates about LIVE webcast events from the field and opportunities to interact with our expedition team!

Sincerely,

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Philippe Cousteau Jr.

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