Education & Stewardship

Casco Bay has been a cornerstone of our history, economy, and communities. The Casco Bay Watershed, covering just 4.4% of Maine’s land, is home to a quarter of the state’s population and a third of its jobs. Millions of visitors flock to the region each year to experience its natural beauty and resources, making the protection and restoration of Casco Bay and its watershed crucial.

But how do we communicate this importance to residents and visitors? How do we inspire people to move from simply being aware of the Bay’s significance to actively becoming its stewards? Our approach focuses on empowering our community partners, who run robust volunteer stewardship, education, and technical assistance programs.

CBEP supports Casco Bay schools by offering teacher training, connecting expedition-based learning programs with community partners, funding projects through our Community Grants program, and more.

We also back key educational initiatives like the Cumberland County Soil and Water Conservation District’s CONNECT program, which brings watershed education to middle schools in eleven Casco Bay communities, the Southern Maine Children’s Water Festival, a day-long event for middle schoolers, and Portland Water District’s Trout Kids program, among others.

Through our Community Grants program, CBEP fosters locally-led projects that build new partnerships and deepen community engagement with Casco Bay and its watershed.

The Casco Bay Plan 2024 outlines a broader goal for community engagement, focusing on reaching new audiences, supporting community science, and engaging local municipal officials and volunteers, among other initiatives.