Education
New York City has 520 miles of coastline. Every student should get the chance to explore it.
The Issue
Climate and Waterfront Education Helps to Prepare the Next Generation for a Changing World
Climate and waterfront-based education equips students with the knowledge and tools to understand the causes and effects of climate change, while also preparing them and their communities to adapt to their impacts. Helping young people explore their local waterfront and understand coastal resilience is a critical part of our work.
Despite being surrounded by water, many students in the New York region are unaware of the vital role its shorelines play in their everyday lives. Over the past decade, interest in accessing local waterfronts has grown significantly among New Yorkers. However, to really reconnect with its maritime roots and build a resilient future, the next generation must gain the education and hands-on experiences needed to engage with and care for our shared waterways.
Our Approach
Bring Estuary Explorers to your classroom and waterfront.
Waterfront Alliance’s premier climate change education programming is STEM-based and grounded in experiential learning at the waterfront. Through our hands-on field labs, in-class visits, and teacher trainings, students and educators alike learn about the scientific method, urban design principles, ecology, climate preparedness and how they can apply it to their classrooms and local shorelines.
Quick Facts:
- All materials, including field lab supplies, are provided by Waterfront Alliance
- Lessons are taught directly from our lesson plans, workbook and education toolkit.
- Up to 30 students can be accommodated per class
- More than fifty percent of the students we’ve worked with have said that they never accessed their community’s waterfront before participating in Estuary Explorers
- Quarterly newsletter sent out to teachers and organizations featuring education highlights and events hosted by Waterfront Alliance and our alliance partners
The program pairs outdoor lessons at a neighborhood’s waterfront with extension activities in the classroom. This helps enrich students’ understanding of coastal resilience, climate change, and water quality.
Climate Resilience Fellowship
The Climate Resilience Fellowship is a hands-on training and career development program for New York City young adults ages 17-24 who are interested in climate resilience, environmental justice, community planning, design, sustainability, and creating a stronger future for our waterfront communities. The fellowship equips participants with the knowledge, skills, and professional connections needed to explore careers in the growing climate resilience field.
Over 16 weeks, fellows will participate in workshops, field experiences, and community-based projects that explore how cities can prepare for and adapt to climate change. Participants will learn directly from practitioners, visit resilience projects throughout New York City, and gain exposure to career pathways in planning, green infrastructure, restoration, environmental education, and sustainability.
Apply here: Waterfront Alliance – Climate Resilience Fellowship Form
Application deadline is: October 31, 2026
What Fellows Will Do
- Prepare for the WEDG® Associate Exam, with all training and exam costs covered
- Visit and assess real-world resilience projects, including green infrastructure, shorelines, marshes, parks, and waterfront sitesLearn how climate resilience projects are planned, evaluated, and communicated
- Develop creative and community-centered projects that help residents understand and respond to climate challenges
- Connect with professionals, employers, and organizations working across the climate resilience sector
- Explore opportunities for internships, apprenticeships, and future employment
What Fellows Receive
- WEDG® training and exam preparation
- Opportunity to earn the nationally recognized WEDG® Associate credential
- Hands-on field and technical training
- Professional development and career exploration opportunities
- Access to climate resilience professionals and industry networks
- Connections to internships, apprenticeships, and jobs
- OMNY cards to support travel
- Food provided during all in-person sessions
- A $700 stipend upon successful completion of the WEDG® Associate Exam
Who Should Apply?
We encourage applications from young adults who:
- Are 17-24 years old
- Live in New York City
- Have ties to or experience within environmental justice communities
- Are interested in climate, resilience, sustainability, design, planning, or community engagement
- Are committed to active participation throughout the fellowship experience
- No prior experience in climate science, planning, or environmental work is required. We believe the people most impacted by climate change should have opportunities to shape resilient futures and build careers advancing climate solutions.
Program Commitment
Fellows can expect to participate approximately 6-8 hours per week over the course of 16 weeks through a combination of workshops, site visits, field experiences, and professional development activities. Some sessions may occur during evenings or weekends.
This is a very important topic for our community here in Red Hook and is an awesome opportunity for students to learn about what makes their environment work and what harms it.
I really enjoyed learning about the different animals in the harbor, and how pollution impacts the water.
It was great having our campers be connected with the waterfront right next to the Castle Hill YMCA! Learning about climate change and resiliency as it relates to the kid's own community was such a unique experience.
Exploring Our Waterfront: Estuary Explorers Workbook
Check out the all-new Estuary Explorers Workbook! This book contains all the information our educators use in our classroom visit and field labs, along with the history of the New York waterfront, the ecology of the New York-New Jersey Harbor Estuary, the impacts of climate change, and lots of fun games and activities.
Waterfront Alliance Coloring Book
Do you like learning about the New York and New Jersey waterfronts as much as we do? Now you can learn AND color with our Waterfront Alliance Coloring Book, released this past summer!
Green and Blue Careers Guide
A step-by-step guide to professional growth in green and blue industries! Whether you're passionate about science, art, technology, or helping others, there’s a place for you in the growing fields of sustainability and resilience. These careers are not just about protecting the environment - they’re about building stronger, safer, and more just communities.
