MERITO Foundation Inc FKA MutliCultural Education for Reso

In 2024, the MERITO Foundation staff and board immersed 4,950 4th-12th grade students in transformative place-based and project-based learning experiences and engaged over 15,000 adults through outreach and community events. Students participated in hands-on experiences in environmental monitoring, habitat restoration, outdoor recreation and STEAM challenges that helped them develop critical thinking skills and introduced them to environmental advocacy and green entrepreneurship. Outreach and community events included hosting the Earth Day Festival in Ventura, and involving the Spanish speaking communities of West Ventura in the co-design of the Parkway Preserve adjacent to the Ventura River. Each of these experiences was offered at no cost to the youth and communities we serve. Our work helped improve the health of our coast, our ocean, and the regions youth. The 4,950 students participated in Merito's 9-month ocean, climate & environmental education programs, including: Ventura River Action Network (V-RAN) in partnership with VUSD; From the Avenue to the Channel Islands (ATCI) in partnership with De Anza MS; Vamos a la Playa! (VLP) thanks to a Whale Tail Grant, the Port of Hueneme, and the Education & Engagement component of the Oxnard Beautification Project (OBP) for the City of Oxnard. We also expanded our outreach by providing watershed education in Bakersfield. Outdoor activities were supported by in-class instruction about the scientific concepts that were applied during the immersive outdoor experiences.Over 1,600 students participated in the collection of environmental data during the field experiences of our programs, following protocols set by research organizations. Monitoring ranged from water quality, macro-invertebrates, micro-plastics, marine debris, sandy beaches and rocky inter-tidal habitats, and aquatic bird populations. Stewardship activities included dune restoration assisting CA State Parks under the CA Department of Parks & Recreation. The data collected by the students is available to the public in the new V-RAN Story Map. Also, nearly 100 adults participated in monthly Sea Ramble events in Ventura, with Patagonia combining scenic bike rides with beach clean-ups, and piloting data collection for Southern CA Plankton Watch.1,130 students at De Anza Middle School enjoyed a variety of outdoor adventures this year through our From the Avenue to the Channel Islands (ATCI) program Funded by the Outdoor Equity Grant, created through AB 209 and administered by the CA Department of Parks & Recreation, Office of Grants and Local Services. The ATCI program combines environmental and ocean science education with activities like biking to the Ventura River Estuary, exploring tide pools, restoring dunes, outrigger canoing, sailing, camping, hiking, star gazing, and snorkeling at Catalina and Santa Cruz Islands. For many students, these trips were filled with unforgettable first time experiences.Merito engaged 1,937 students and 21 teachers from 14 schools in Oxnard, Hueneme, and El Rio through the Oxnard Beautification Project (OBP), an initiative of the City of Oxnard. Students learned the science to understand the impacts of trash and the urban heat island effect. After participating in hands-on field experiences at their local beaches, wetlands, and rivers, the students created outreach campaigns using their own art and digital media to educate their communities not to litter and to care for their local parks during the Beautiful Oxnard Challenge. The top student-authored projects were recognized by Mayor John C. Zaragoza and awarded stipends. Merito increased educator capacity to integrate ocean and climate science through Professional Development (PD) sessions. We provided tools and hands-on training to 69 educators to help them bring ocean, climate, energy, and environmental science to their classrooms through in-person, online, and field sessions. From exploring Santa Cruz Islands kelp forests to hands-on training in plankton collection and identification at Hueneme Pier, lectures from expert guests on plastic pollution, and webinars on how to guide their students to develop proposals that can reduce the carbon footprint of their schools; all our PD sessions blend the most up to date science, education, and real-world experiences and skills.850 students from the Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) participating in our V-RAN and ATCI programs learned how to conduct waste, water, and energy audits of their schools, or to assess community awareness of the Matilija Dam on the Ventura River. Out of 58 proposals competing in Energy Efficiency, Water Conservation, Waste Reduction, and Matilija Dam outreach that we received from their teachers, 16 teams made it to the 9th annual EECCOA Challenge Awards event on May 20, 2024, where 55 students showcased their projects. The top teams earned $6,100 in stipends for their innovative ideas, thanks to sponsors and volunteer judges.Merito directly engaged over 15,000 community members of Ventura and other Southern and Central California counties through community festivals, outreach events, public forums, lectures, presentations, and conferences. Highlights include: bringing the Earth Day Festival back to Plaza Park in Ventura; two community forums involving the Spanish-speaking community of West Ventura in the co-design Ojai Valley Land Conservancys Parkway Preserve; taking part in a speakers panel during the Southern California Coastal and Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS) Conference in San Diego; and the fun 20th annual Aloha Beach Festival, which gathered thousands of residents and visitors to celebrate coastal culture at Ventura.Through numerous weekday and weekend events in 2024, Merito involved over 500 students and 100 adults in stewardship activities including beach clean-ups and habitat restoration events. During the beach clean ups, the participants collected and categorized trash to inform research. In partnership with the CA Department of Parks & Recreation and The Nature Conservancy, over 150 students helped restore habitats at San Buenaventura and Ormond Beaches, removing thousands of sq. ft. of invasive plants. Additionally, after 6th graders at De Anza Middle School learned about native plants, a cohort continues to participate in on-campus gardening and composting.The MERITO Foundation empowered 27 young leaders, including Youth Environmental Stewards from the City of Ventura and our first-ever Ocean Ambassadors cohort of students from the Cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. The students were nominated by their teachers for their leadership abilities, and Merito involved them in community service, job shadowing environmental professionals, and outreach events. The Environmental Stewards sharpened their outdoor and leadership skills at a 3-day Outdoor Youth Connection camp led by CA Department of Parks & Recreation, while the Ocean Ambassadors learned team-building techniques at Ventura Harbor, complemented with sailing and kayaking skills experiences led by Merito board members.