Fish Gotta Swim ©
WiSE Science Education Program for Savannah Youth
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, 75% 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.
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?
