Guy Harvey Foundation and CCA Florida Join Forces to Train Teachers and Fund the Next Generation of Ocean Leaders

The new partnership brings co-branded coastal education into classrooms, sponsors hands-on teacher training, and commits a $25,000 youth scholarship

Two of Florida’s most prominent conservation organizations have found common ground in a place that matters most: the classroom. The Guy Harvey Foundation (GHF) and Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida announced a partnership on February 10, 2026, that weaves together ecosystem restoration education, professional development for teachers, and direct investment in young conservation leaders across the state.

At its core, the collaboration is built around content. GHF has developed new, co-branded educational materials aligned with CCA’s restoration work, shining a light on the ecological roles of oysters, clams, salt marshes, and mangroves in protecting Florida’s coastal waters. These are not abstract lessons. They connect directly to the hands-on restoration projects CCA already runs across the state, giving educators a tangible bridge between what students read and what is actually happening in their local estuaries.

Training the Teachers Who Train the Future

A central pillar of the partnership is CCA’s sponsorship of GHF’s Conservation Education Training (CET) sessions for teachers. Last year, educators attended a CCA-sponsored session at the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach, a 76,000-acre stretch of protected coastal lands in northeast Florida that serves as a living laboratory for exactly the kind of science this program promotes.

The Guy Harvey Conservation Education program is open to elementary, middle, and high school educators and provides all the materials, classroom supplies, and educational content participants need to bring marine science into their schools. Through immersive, experiential sessions, teachers engage in regional professional development opportunities focused on environmental STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. Once trained, participants become certified Guy Harvey Conservation Educators, equipped with the knowledge and resources to foster environmental awareness among their students. The program also offers grants for field trips and supplies, giving educators ongoing support well beyond the initial training.

“This partnership with CCA represents a powerful alignment of shared values, education, conservation and long-term stewardship of our coastal ecosystems,” said Jessica Harvey, CEO of the Guy Harvey Foundation. “By combining our educational expertise with CCA’s restoration-focused mission, we are creating meaningful pathways for teachers, students and young leaders to understand, protect and advocate for Florida’s vital marine habitats.”

$25,000 Youth Scholarship Through the STAR Fishing Competition

Beyond the classroom, GHF has committed to sponsoring a $25,000 youth scholarship in the 2026 CCA Florida STAR Youth Fishing Competition. The STAR tournament is one of Florida’s largest recreational fishing competitions for young anglers, and the scholarship ties conservation values directly to outdoor experience, rewarding young people who are already spending time on the water with support for their education.

“Partnering with the Guy Harvey Foundation allows us to amplify the impact of conservation beyond the water and into the classroom,” said CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski. “By connecting hands-on ecosystem restoration with meaningful education and teacher training, we are investing in the next generation of conservation leaders.”

Why It Matters

Florida’s coastal ecosystems are under mounting pressure from development, water quality degradation, and the accelerating effects of climate change. Oyster reefs, salt marshes, and mangrove forests serve as natural infrastructure: they filter water, buffer shorelines from storm surge, and provide critical nursery habitat for commercially and recreationally important fish species. Partnerships that bring these realities into schools, and equip teachers with the tools to make them tangible for students, are an investment in the kind of long-term stewardship that no single policy or restoration project can accomplish alone.

For more information about the Guy Harvey Foundation’s educational, research, and conservation initiatives, visit www.GuyHarveyFoundation.org. For more on CCA Florida and its programs, visit ccaflorida.org.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATIONS

With a focused mission to better understand and conserve the ocean environment, the Guy Harvey Foundation (GHF) collaborates with local, national and international organizations to conduct scientific research and provides funding to affiliated researchers who share this objective The GHF also develops and hosts cutting-edge educational programs that help educators to foster the next era of marine conservationists, ensuring that future generations can enjoy and benefit from a properly balanced ocean ecosystem. www.GuyHarveyFoundation.org

The Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) was
founded in 1977 after drastic commercial overfishing along the Texas coast decimated redfish and
speckled trout populations. One of 19 state chapters, CCA Florida became the fifth state chapter in 1985.
A 501(c)3 nonprofit, the purpose of CCA is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine
resources. Through habitat restoration projects, water quality initiatives and fisheries advocacy, CCA
Florida works with its over 18,000 members including recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts to
conserve and enhance marine resources and coastal environments. Join the conversation on Facebook
or learn more at ccaflorida.org.