By Colleen Miller
Early Wednesday afternoon students from Mt. Hope High School gathered at Barrington Town Beach to work on a coastal adaptation project with Save The Bay.
After being instructed by Save The Bay Restoration Coordinator Wenley …
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By Colleen Miller
Early Wednesday afternoon students from Mt. Hope High School gathered at Barrington Town Beach to work on a coastal adaptation project with Save The Bay.
After being instructed by Save The Bay Restoration Coordinator Wenley Ferguson, the students set off across the beach with bundles of beach grass to plant along the shore just past the parking lot. The Roger Williams University women's lacrosse team was to arrive later to help out.
The planting builds on efforts that began last year to adapt the area to rising sea-levels. Last year the paved parking lot at the beach was moved back by about 10 feet, creating more beach for people to use when the tide rises. The beach grass will create sand dunes and reduce erosion. Temporary fencing will be put up to prevent beach-goers from walking on the grass.
This project is one of many the Mt. Hope students have done as part of their year-long marine biology class taught by Christine Bean. Ms. Bean has been teaching the course for five years and also teaches environmental science and chemistry.
"We strengthen the curriculum by incorporating field studies," she said. "They are able to make connections firsthand."
"It's more hands-on," says senior Hailey Goss, who has been accepted to Cornell and Boston University and wants to major in biology or marine biology.
Hailey is not Ms. Bean's only student who wants to continue studying science. Junior Marysa Fikiet is interested in marine biology and zoology. Hailey's twin sister Sarah intends to study environmental management and pre-law.
"I'm going to be a maritime lawyer. Going into I didn't know what kind of law I wanted to do," she said.
"Before I took this class I didn't care about the environment one bit," said senior Sarah Forden. She intends to major in marine biology in college and minor in environmental science.
"They are gaining a sense of stewardship," said Ms. Bean.
In addition to giving the students a better understanding of the concepts they study in the classroom, the field work allows the students contribute to the East Bay community.