Scholarships and School Programs

School Programs

Since spring 2015, TWI has funded a three-part watershed program for seventh-grade science classes at the Tisbury School, taught by educators from Mass Audubon's Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary. The first session is held in the classroom using a model of a watershed. Students learn how stormwater carries pollution into our ponds and harbor and what can be done to prevent runoff and erosion. The second part involves a walking field trip to downtown Vineyard Haven, where students install specially-designed blue medallions beside catch basins , which  show a fish and the words "Drains to Waterway," a reminder to everyone passing by that whatever goes down the drain ends up in the water. The third session includes a field trip to Felix Neck for a kayak exploration of the salt marsh and an interactive experience with the Shellfish Constable and an educator from the MV Shellfish Hatchery examining marine species found at Major’s Cove.

Recently, a more detailed watershed program has been presented to high school freshman earth science classes, which is also followed by a trip to the Felix Neck Sanctuary.