Watershed Guardians
Student Community Science
Watershed Guardians is a community science field program for middle school through college students, taking them to their local watersheds (Carr Lake, Carmel River, and Salinas River) to conduct water quality testing. Students gain hands-on scientific research and data collection skills, gain experience using tools and methods employed by field scientists, and learn to analyze data through the GLOBE Program (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment).
Through place-based inquiry of their local watershed and learning about human impacts to the health of the ecosystem, student grow a sense of agency and connection to place, which in turn nurtures their ability to be positive advocates for and stewards of their local ecosystems and communities.
To learn more, email Education@PGMuseum.org.
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Students in grades 6-12 are invited to share their field research at the Student Research Symposium at the Museum in April. Students can communicate their findings in a research poster or community action project.
Posters and projects are reviewed by a panel of local scientists and all student-scientists receive feedback on their work and learn about careers and further study in science and conservation. This event is fully bilingual and brings families and the community together to celebrate the work of the student-scientists.
(Link: for more information about putting together a project)
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The main goal of the Watershed Guardians program is to bring students outdoors to learn stewardship of their local watershed. This program provides both classroom resources and field trips as well as coaching for teachers to support outdoor learning.
Below you will find activities for each step in the learning cycle pertaining to Watershed Guardians, but many of the activities can be used in the classroom with a focus on different subjects.
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Watershed Guardians uses GLOBE (Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) - supported protocols. GLOBE is sponsored by NASA and supported by the NSF, NOAA, and U.S. State Department. Scientists in the environmental department of NASA use GLOBE data to track and measure global trends and make policy recommendations. Learn more about GLOBE and the standards addressed with our Watershed Guardians Programs below.
Watershed Guardians is made possible in part by the generous support of the Harden Foundation of Salinas and YLACES.
Sampling Sites
Ask About:
Asilomar State & Salinas River State Beaches
Does your school have a water source within walking distance that you would like to explore with watershed guardians?
Water access at these sites often requires walking through loose sand or gravel and on banks without steps or guardrails. If participating students require special accomodations to reach your sampling site please contact the watershed guardians program coordinator to plan accordingly!