Fish Gotta Swim ©

Funded by grants, donations, and proceeds of our nature discovery tours, Fish Gotta Swim© is a topic-centered, hands-on science enrichment course for underserved middle school students in Chatham County.  Since 2002, Fish Gotta Swim© has provided a dynamic, in-person experience for students who may not have the opportunity to engage with nature in their day-to-day lives.  A full immersion course of 8 sessions (spread over 21 hours), Fish Gotta Swim© enables students to explore local wetlands and investigate water quality.  

 

In years past, WiSE has provided upwards of 8,000 student hours annually of water quality education to Savannah-Chatham County Public School students, serving mostly at-risk youth.  An estimated 43,000 school-age children live in Chatham County, with nearly 38,000 students attending public schools. Thirty-eight (38) of the 55 SCCPSS schools are Title-I schools with a high percentage of students who live in poverty. Due to sociodemographic barriers, 55% of students served in the Fish Gotta Swim© program have never been to the beach or coastal wetlands.   

 

Today, the need for programs like Fish Gotta Swim© has never been greater.  Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in children's mental health, and time spent in nature is a formidable remedy for stress.  Over 300 studies have proven that the benefits of being outside in nature and outdoor learning are simply priceless.   

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WiSE is committed to connecting kids to nature and creating conscious stewards of our community's natural resources, regardless of socioeconomic background.  Will you make a WiSE donation today and help us revitalize this integral program for kids who need it most?