River Kidz

On December 2021, St. Mark’s Episcopal Academy proudly became the home of the Brevard County chapter of River Kidz, joining the original Martin County group in giving children a voice in protecting Florida’s waters. The inaugural event at our campus focused on saving manatees in the Indian River Lagoon. Students wrote letters to Governor Ron DeSantis and heard from marine biologist Tiare Friedrich of the Save the Manatee Club. This milestone was made possible by the partnership of Wayne Mills (Brevard/IRL Coalition, ORCA, Clean Water Coalition), Leslie Maloney (Brevard/IRL Coalition), and St. Mark’s Episcopal Academy.

 

The mission of River Kidz is simple but powerful: speak out, get involved, and raise awareness—because kids should have a voice in the future of our rivers.

 

At St. Mark’s, our River Kidz club continues to thrive through regular meetings held in our Garth and Outdoor Classroom, which doubles as a living laboratory for the Clean River Project. Led by our STEAM program, students go beyond classroom learning to take part in hands-on conservation:
   •    Collecting and testing water samples to monitor lagoon health.
   •    Observing seagrass recovery and documenting wildlife, including a resident manatee living under our dock.
   •    Planting mangroves and helping with oyster restoration projects.
   •    Using research kayaks to study mangrove health, seagrass vitality, and fish populations.
   •    Creating advocacy posters and writing letters to elected officials to support lagoon and manatee protection.
   •    Participating in A Day in the Life of the Indian River Lagoon, a citizen-science project that collects water data lagoon-wide.
   •    Joining SONFishers and FWC for the Kids & Family Fishing Clinic, learning sustainable fishing practices while receiving free poles and tackle boxes to support their conservation journey.

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Through River Kidz, St. Mark’s students don’t just study the environment — they are actively restoring habitats, raising awareness, and learning how their voices and actions shape the future of the lagoon.

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Follow St. Mark’s Episcopal Academy on social media and check our website’s Homepage in the News & Updates section for meeting announcements. To become a River Kidz member and receive their newsletter, sign up using the River Kidz button below.