From Classroom to Coral Reefs: Students Dive into Conservation
Retired teacher John Hastings leads Sandpoint students on coral restoration missions in the Caribbean, combining education with hands-on conservation.
Since 2019, Hastings has traveled with student groups to work on coral restoration projects, an idea that originated in his Advanced Placement Environmental Science class at Sandpoint High School.
Students, who had been studying the impacts of climate change on coral reefs, were deeply moved and wanted a hands-on opportunity to help, so Hastings organized trips to the Caribbean to work with small NGOs.
To date, Hastings has led three trips to the Dominican Republic and one to Belize, where
SHS students build artificial reef structures for ocean placement.
Learn more at the upcoming KNPS event.
Author's summary: Students join coral restoration missions.