HOW LOCAL CLASSROOMS ARE TURNING THE “RIVER OF GRASS” INTO A LIVING STEM LESSON
In South Miami-Dade, where the Everglades is not a distant concept but a neighbor, students are learning that one of the world’s most unique ecosystems begins practically in their backyard. From early learners to graduating seniors, local classrooms are exploring how water moves, why wildlife thrives, and what restoration means for the place they call home through education programs designed to build real Everglades knowledge and a lifelong sense of stewardship.
The Everglades is a vast, complex landscape of winding waterways, wildlife, and plant life that sustains South Florida. But decades of development and disrupted water flow have strained the ecosystem, making education a critical part of protecting it for the future. The Everglades Foundation works to restore and protect this wetland through science, advocacy, and education, and for thousands of students each year, the “education” piece is where the story becomes personal.
A CURRICULUM BUILT FOR TEACHERS, AND FOR COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS
At the center of The Everglades Foundation’s education work is the Everglades Literacy Program, a STEM-based initiative launched in 2014 that offers a free PreK–12 curriculum designed to immerse students in the Everglades ecosystem. Developed by educators for educators, it aligns with Florida state standards and integrates multiple subjects, making it flexible for different ages and learning styles.
That flexibility is part of what makes it a natural fit for South Miami-Dade schools. Here, the connection isn’t abstract; students can see the region’s canals, wetlands, coastal waters, and wildlife corridors as pieces of the same watershed. The curriculum helps them explore topics like biodiversity, water quality, and ecosystem restoration, not as faraway science, but as local reality.
Over the past decade, the Everglades Literacy Program has expanded significantly across Florida, reaching more than 9,000 teachers in 1,400 schools across 32 counties, and engaging more than 312,000 students.
“Across Florida, students are learning that the Everglades isn’t just a beautiful place; it’s a critical resource that supports our water, our wildlife, and our way of life,” said The Everglades Foundation’s VP of Education Jennifer Diaz. “When young people understand how this ecosystem works and why it matters, they’re more prepared to protect it and lead Florida’s future.”
In a region as close to the Everglades as South Dade, that proximity matters. In Miami-Dade County, more than 2,500 teachers from 260 schools have been trained in the Everglades Literacy Program, with 360 of those teachers from South Dade. Many schools in the southern part of Miami-Dade have made Everglades literacy a year-round priority supporting how students understand science, problem-solving, and civic responsibility.
One outstanding PreK–5 Everglades Champion School in South Dade, Vineland K‑8 Center, hosted a school-wide Everglades Day celebration on April 7, 2025. The vibrant event brought the entire school community together as students from every grade level led to engaging, Everglades‑themed activities for their peers.
Another excellent example of Everglades leadership is BioTECH at Richmond Heights Senior High. An Everglades Champions in Action School, BioTECH is demonstrating powerful student leadership by collaborating with Miami-Dade County’s Environmental Endangered Lands to conserve land in South Florida as critical habitat for the endangered Florida bonneted bat.
FROM THE WETLANDS TO THE CLASSROOM: SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE WHO TEACH
Ask any educator and you’ll hear it: The strongest programs don’t just inspire students, they also support teachers. That’s why The Everglades Foundation offers free teacher trainings and an annual symposium, giving educators practical strategies and resources to bring Everglades literacy into everyday instruction.
Teachers can also tap into the Everglades Literacy Teacher Toolkit, an online hub filled with PreK–12 lesson plans and other instructional resources. With these ready-to-use materials, educators can turn complex Everglades science into learning that feels clear and engaging. They also help students connect classroom lessons to real environmental challenges and see how science, advocacy, and action work together.
LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
In 2023, The Everglades Foundation expanded its education offerings with Everglades EcoQuest, a web-based platform that turns Everglades learning into interactive exploration. Supported by Florida Power & Light Company, EcoQuest helps students understand habitats, plants, wildlife, and the importance of ecosystem restoration.
Through games and challenges, students can earn badges and move through adventures across the watershed, encountering species such as alligators, manatees, and largemouth bass. It’s the kind of learning that meets today’s students where they are – digital, curious, and motivated by discovery.
TURNING KNOWLEDGE INTO STEWARDSHIP: SCHOOLS AND STUDENT LEADERS
Education is powerful, but action is what turns learning into lasting impact. The Everglades Foundation extends its education work through programs that engage students and schools in leadership and stewardship.
One of those is the Everglades Champion Schools program, which helps schools integrate Everglades literacy into daily learning through lessons, student-led projects, and field experiences, building a campus culture of environmental responsibility. Schools showing exceptional commitment can be recognized as Champion Schools, and participating teachers can apply for mini-grants to support field studies, habitat restoration, and hands-on initiatives.
ENGAGING FAMILIES—AND THE FUTURE SCIENTISTS AMONG US
Everglades education doesn’t stop at the school doors. The Foundation also reaches households through Families ForEverglades, a series of virtual programs that invite families into ongoing conversations about endangered species, invasive plants, and conservation. Designed as virtual family night sessions, the program aims to spark curiosity and strengthen everyday connections to the natural world around us.
South Miami-Dade sits at the doorstep of one of the planet’s most extraordinary ecosystems. That proximity is both a gift and a responsibility. When local students learn how the Everglades works, they’re not just studying a landscape; they’re learning about the natural system that shapes Florida’s future.
That’s why Everglades education resonates so strongly here: It connects students to place, to science, to community, and to the idea that protecting the Everglades is not someone else’s job, it’s part of our shared story.
To learn more about The Everglades Foundation and its education programs, visit evergladesliteracy.org
