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Mission
Salt Marsh Kids offers underserved K-8th grade students who attend Title 1 schools hands-on, science-based outdoor education programs across South Carolina’s beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests.
Through these experiences, our Vision is to
foster academic achievement and develop a lifelong commitment to conservation and personal stewardship
for all underserved students in South Carolina.
Over 703 Students Served Since 2025!
Shortfalls In SC Education
South Carolina's children continue to navigate significant academic challenges. On the latest 2026 SC READY assessments, 61.3% of elementary and middle school students met or exceeded grade-level expectations in English Language Arts, while only 47.9% did so in mathematics. While these numbers show recent progress, statewide averages mask a much steeper reality for children in Title I schools and underserved communities where resource gaps remain wide. These persistent hurdles limit student access to experiential learning environments that naturally spark curiosity and confidence. (SC Department of Education)
Salt Marsh Kids exists to bridge this gap. We work closely with dedicated teachers and administrators to deliver nature-based, outdoor science programs that reinforce core classroom lessons. By moving math and science concepts into the living ecosystems of the Lowcountry, we help turn academic challenges into hands-on triumphs.
Partnerships
By transforming the Lowcountry’s marshes, forests, and beaches into living classrooms, we embed literacy and numeracy into hands-on ecological exploration. Students strengthen reading, writing, and problem-solving skills while discovering the interconnectedness of the natural world. Our impact is amplified through dynamic partnerships with leading institutions and community stakeholders. These include the Center for Birds of Prey- The Avian Conservation Center, SC Sea Grant Consortium, The South Carolina Aquarium, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), Charlestown Landing, and a growing network of local private businesses committed to educational access and environmental stewardship.
Together with Salt Marsh Kids, these partners offer immersive experiences—including flight demonstrations, salt marsh aquarium labs, and marsh restoration projects—that bring science, history, and conservation to life. Whether students are observing raptors in flight, exploring tide pools, or engaging with marine biologists and park interpreters, they are building academic skills alongside wonder, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
Impact
The impact is both immediate and long-term. Research shows that children who are not proficient readers by third grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school (Annie E. Casey Foundation). By embedding academic skill-building into joyful, place-based experiences, Salt Marsh Kids helps reverse this trajectory, ensuring that children not only succeed in school but also grow into engaged citizens and environmental stewards.
Investing in Salt Marsh Kids is more than enrichment. It is a lifeline for children who might otherwise be left behind, and a decisive step toward a stronger, more accessible South Carolina, one where every child has entry to the transformative power of nature, community, and learning.
