Salt Marsh Stewards

Our Goals

Connect high school students to the outdoors, introduce them to careers in conservation, and help build their professional/academic skills.

What We’re Doing

Through this paid, part-time job, students gain valuable career experience and receive a unique education focused on wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration, and public outreach.

A group of Salt Marsh Stewards in bright orange t-shirts pose for a photo at the marsh.

Salt Marsh Stewards pose for a photo after a long day of planting. Photo: Լ��Ƶ Connecticut

In 2022, Լ��Ƶ Connecticut launched the Salt Marsh Steward program in tandem with the $4 million Great Meadows Marsh restoration project. The program employed three crew leaders who trained and supervised a group of twelve high school students from Stratford and Bunnell High Schools, recruited and hired in collaboration with the town of Stratford and the high schools themselves.

In the program's first year, the Salt Marsh Stewards helped put more than 155,000 native plants and shrubs into the ground at Great Meadows. At the official ribbon-cutting event, they led tours for elected officials and volunteers, and spoke to journalists about the positive impact of the program.

“I would have never applied to Aquaculture high school in Bridgeport if I hadn’t gotten this experience, because it really opened my eyes for the way you can change ecosystems around you and improve them, even if they’re just ten minutes away from your home.”

Amelis Medina, Salt Marsh Steward '22

Today, the program employs eight local high school students supervised by two crew leaders. This team works closely with project partners at Great Meadows to implement adaptive management across the restored marsh.

Thanks to our partner in this work, the Town of Stratford, for their continued support.

500

Students hired annually.

155K

Native plants planted.

Metric metriced.