Contact
Meghan Marrero
National Marine Educators Association/Mercy University
usablueschools@marine-ed.org
United States of America Blue School Network
The National Coordinator for the United States of America was officially established in 2022.
Description
USA Blue Schools has been endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade for its work engaging K–12 students, teachers, and communities in hands-on stewardship and ocean literacy. With more than 50 schools across the U.S. and growing, USA Blue Schools are transforming how we protect our ocean by putting the power directly into the hands of students. We don't just teach marine conservation; we equip young leaders to drive real-world change in their own communities.
With three regional networks so far, and other schools beyond the networks, teachers come together for quarterly national meetings featuring guest speakers sharing resources and USA Blue Schools teachers sharing successes. Our network also hosts student webinars with scientists and marine professionals, as well as virtual and in-person student symposia for students to share their fantastic work.
History of success
The Sound School in New Haven, Connecticut's Environmental Justice Program (EJP) students have led powerful research and outreach initiatives. Using tools like the 5Gyres TrashBlitz app, students tracked plastic waste streams reaching coastal environments and turned that data into community education, helping youth understand why everyday waste choices matter.
EJP students also explored impacts on local fisheries, developing and delivering hands-on workshops for diverse audiences—from 6-year-old Cub Scouts to homeschool high schoolers—promoting eco-sustainable fishing practices and even providing new rods for families to use together. Sharing their work far and wide, students presented at SENEME, NEOSEC, and designed and led a teacher professional development experience at Mystic Aquarium. Check this link
The Bronx Lab School in the Bronx, NY, is empowering its young learners to become environmental stewards. The teachers began an environmental awareness club, in which students learned about different aspects of Long Island Sound. These students then engaged with their families and the school community, participating in shoreline cleanups and hands-on educational events, and sharing what they learned with the entire school community, creating the school's first-ever Earth Day event. The teachers leveraged community partnerships, including with NY Sea Grant, Billion Oyster Project, NYC H2O, and City Island Oyster Reef, to build ocean literacy and foster stewardship. Students also presented their work at the Long Island Sound Schools Network Student Symposium.
