How to help River Kidz provide elementary school students environmental workbooks
Treasure Coast nonprofits that research, protect, restore and advocate for clean water, especially the Indian River Lagoon , need more than holiday cheer to continue their missions.
TCPalm's annual Giving Days fundraiser highlights how you can help these nonprofit organizations continue their important environmental work. Today, we feature the:
River Kidz
River Kidz formed in 2011 when two 10-year-olds, Naia Mader and Evie Flaugh, raised $85 for the Rivers Coalition by selling lemonade. With the help of parents and a Jensen Beach High School marine biology class, the kids developed a workbook to teach elementary school students about how pollution threatens the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie River estuary. The kids also have lobbied against offshore oil drilling, circulated petitions to limit fertilizer runoff, appeared in an Everglades Foundation documentary, attended rallies against Lake Okeechobee discharges and sat in on a congressional hearing on the lagoon's health in Washington, D.C.
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Wish: Funding for River Kidz materials to help the nonprofit increase community participation in advocating for the health of Treasure Coast waters.
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How it will help: The Rivers Coalition can raise more awareness and give more young advocates an opportunity to be included in environmental issues affecting Treasure Coast waters.
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Cost: Supplies cost $50-$100 and 90 T-shirts for students cost $1,000
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How to donate: riverscoalition.org/donate
GIVING DAYS: Read each Indian River Lagoon nonprofit's article
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Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems Exhibit at the St. Lucie County Aquarium
Cheryl Smith is TCPalm's environment editor. Contact her at cheryl.smith@tcpalm.com. Tim O'Hara is TCPalm's environment reporter. Contact him at tim.ohara@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Giving Days help River Kidz give public schools environment workbooks
