About Project Swell

Project SWELL (Stewardship: Water Education for Lifelong Leadership) is a district-based science curriculum that teaches children about the importance of the region's waterways. The impact of human-water interaction is explored through a well-balanced, comprehensive, and hands-on water quality and pollution prevention course of study. Project SWELL fosters a sense of stewardship for the natural environment through education, and empowers the future leaders of America to improve the condition of San Diego's coast and waterways.

Project SWELL is administered through a ground-breaking partnership between Think Blue (the City of San Diego), the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD), and San Diego Coastkeeper. These partners have succeeded in meeting a common goal: enhancement of existing science curricula to better address pressing environmental issues related to local watersheds. The lessons align with the content standards sdopted by the California State Board of Education and the science framework for California Public Schools, meet learning objectives set by the California Department of Education, and are aligned with the Environmental Principles and Concepts of the Education and the Environment Initiative. This partnership with a large, urban school district is unique in that the SWELL curriculum units are provided to every teacher at every elementary school in the San Diego Unified School District (about 130 schools in total).

Launched in 2003, Project SWELL stands for Stewardship: Water Education for Lifelong Leadership. The goal of Project SWELL is to promote environmental stewardship among San Diego youth, while enhancing education opportunities for local students and providing resources for teachers. The unique San Diego-based education program supports progressive change by educating our children about pollution prevention and how their actions can help improve the health of our ocean and waterways. It is supported by a number of project partners and sponsors.

Project SWELL has a proven history of successful science education in San Diego. Project SWELL curriculum reaches more than 60,000 students each year. The San Diego Unified School District is currently using the Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade lessons at 130 schools, and the Oceanside Unified School District is utilizing the 5th grade curriculum in 17 schools. Since 2003 when the program was launched, more than 160,000 students received access to Project SWELL lessons. See our educators page to learn about how to get Project SWELL in your classroom or school district.