At the start of the 2024-2025 school year, students in Mrs. Alison Pegram’s Marine Biology and Environmental Science classes launched an exciting, hands-on mission to help restore South Carolina’s coastal ecosystems. In partnership with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), students joined the Seeds to Shoreline® (S2S) program—a year-long conservation initiative focused on cultivating and transplanting Spartina alterniflora, the foundational plant vital to the health of southeastern salt marshes.

Commonly known as smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora anchors South Carolina’s salt marshes by stabilizing shorelines, supporting marine wildlife, and preventing erosion. Without it, these ecosystems would struggle to survive.

Through their participation in the S2S program, HHCA students experienced the full restoration process—from collecting seeds to growing and transplanting seedlings—gaining real-world scientific knowledge while making a lasting environmental impact.

The journey began in November, when students spent an unforgettable day aboard SCDNR’s educational vessel, the E/V Discovery, exploring the salt marshes around James Island. Guided by marine science experts, they collected Spartina seeds while learning firsthand about the complexity and importance of salt marsh ecosystems.

Back in the classroom, students carefully replicated the natural germination process: storing seeds in cold water to simulate fall conditions, then gradually exposing them to warmer temperatures and sunlight to encourage sprouting. Under the mentorship of Charleston DNR staff, students then transferred the germinated seeds into soil-filled pots, nurturing young plants in sunny classroom windows to mimic salt marsh conditions over the next two months.

The project culminated on April 22, when students reunited with Charleston DNR specialists at the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center. There, they transplanted their classroom-grown Spartina seedlings into a local salt marsh that had suffered vegetation loss due to erosion and environmental stress.

The impact of their work is significant. The newly established Spartina grasses will strengthen the shoreline, prevent further erosion, and create essential habitats for local marine species such as the periwinkle snail and various crab species.

It has been a joy to walk alongside students as they actively participated in the care and restoration of our shoreline through the Seeds to Shoreline initiative and their work will continue to have a positive impact on our ecosystem long after this school year ends. I'm so proud of this group and all the ways they've grown as they've learned about stewardship, embraced community engagement, and experienced the wonder of God's creation firsthand.

Alison Pegram, HHCA Science Mentor

Launched in 2011 by the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, in collaboration with SCDNR and Clemson University Cooperative Extension, the Seeds to Shoreline® program empowers K-12 students across the state to take an active role in conserving South Carolina’s coastlines. At HHCA, this initiative beautifully reflects our mission to offer inquiry-based, hands-on learning experiences that inspire students to become thoughtful leaders—and faithful stewards of God's world.