The Coastal Watershed Council’s Watershed Rangers program brings environmental education to students across Santa Cruz County, from the Davenport coast to the Pajaro Valley. In this 2024/25 school year, CWC will serve its 25,000th student! As any past or present Watershed Rangers student or teacher can tell you, the program is so much more than a simple classroom presentation; CWC’s education team goes way beyond your standard PowerPoint lecture.
Watershed Rangers interweaves watershed protection, social and emotional learning (SEL), and multidisciplinary hands-on activities into culturally relevant and engaging lesson series that support whole child education and are aligned with California’s education standards. But wait- there’s more!
CWC Environmental Educator Maria Rocha responds to student questions about steelhead trout at Junction Park in Boulder Creek
In addition to supporting youth and teachers and leading meaningful watershed education experiences in the classroom, outdoors on campus, and on field trips to the San Lorenzo River, every single Watershed Rangers student participates in an empowering student-led action project to share what they’ve learned about river protection with their community. These service learning action projects come in many forms, including poems and artwork, restoration projects, videos, clean-ups, building models and diagrams, a radio show, and the list goes on!
Hands all-in after a successful action project planting native species Bay View Elementary!
This 4th-grade student action project is a diagram of how to reduce erosion and keep water clear.
One of the cutest action project flyers with information about protecting our watershed.
Watershed Rangers students distribute their river advocacy fliers in Santa Cruz’s Abbott Square Market
Because of the Watershed Rangers program, not only have 25,000 more people in our community learned about the San Lorenzo River and how to protect it, but more importantly, that’s 25,000 students who have taken action to protect our environment and educate even more people- extending their impact by incredible margins!
Students plant bush lupine in CWC’s Habitat Enhancement Site during a Youth River Health Day field trip
Watershed Rangers illustrations of San Lorenzo River wildlife were transformed into banners now installed along San Lorenzo Park and the Chinatown Bridge
Watershed Rangers have picked up thousands of pieces of trash along the San Lorenzo River over the years!
Our students wear their Watershed Rangers badges with pride knowing they have made a difference in our community and for our San Lorenzo River. Teamwork makes the stream work! You can learn how to protect our watershed by talking to a Watershed Ranger!
A huge thank you to Santa Cruz City and County programs for funding this important work, including the Green Schools Program, Santa Cruz CORE, and the City of Santa Cruz Water Department’s Watershed Section Watershed Education and Outreach program. Teamwork makes the stream work, and everyone’s support makes a difference- Click here to donate to CWC today!
