Students handing out reusable water bottles and bags at an outdoor campus event.

Empowering Ocean Stewards Through the Ocean Guardian Schools Program

Students and teachers at Simon A. Sanchez High School and John F. Kennedy High School in Guam implemented Ocean Guardian School projects that prevented marine debris and encouraged students to lead environmental stewardship in their communities.

Type of Project: Prevention

Region: Pacific Islands

Project Dates: August 2021 - May 2024

Who was involved?

The NOAA Marine Debris Program supported the expansion of the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries’ Ocean Guardian School Program to the island of Guam by funding two schools’ participation in the program. This pilot project was also supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the NOAA Office for Coastal Management.

What was the project and why is it important?

Ocean Guardian School makes a commitment to the protection and conservation of its local watersheds, the world's ocean, and special ocean areas, such as national marine sanctuaries. The school makes this commitment by proposing and then implementing a school or community-based conservation project. Two of the five project pathways available to schools include marine debris and the 6Rs (Refuse, Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Rot, Recycle). The program is coordinated through the NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and engages schools over the course of several years to support and truly integrate these projects within their communities. 

The NOAA Marine Debris Program supported the expansion and continued growth of the Ocean Guardian School Program’s reach in the Pacific with a Guam pilot project. During the 2021 - 2022 school year, students and teachers at Simon A. Sanchez High School and John F. Kennedy High School participated in the program as Guam’s first Ocean Guardian Schools. These schools have expanded their projects in the following years as partners have committed to the continued support of the Ocean Guardian School Program Guam pilot project through the 2023 - 2024 school year.

What were the results?

In 2021, Simon A. Sanchez High School built their project around the protection of the Northern Guam Lens Aquifer, a major source of drinking water in Guam, by working with students to promote and practice the 6Rs and prevent sources of marine debris. Students and teachers came together to carry out three cleanups and install 60 recycling bins, four compost bins, and seven compost collection bins. This project worked across five schools on the island, with participation from four teachers, 53 students who directly carried out the project, and an estimated 300 students who provided feedback and assistance. 

In 2021, John F. Kennedy High School students and teachers worked towards the goal of protecting the Tumon Bay Watershed and Tumon Bay Marine Preserve from marine debris. They implemented three main activities to achieve their goal: conducting cleanups in the watershed around their campus, reducing plastic waste by providing reusable alternatives on campus, and encouraging the use of environmentally friendly products through posters, videos, and presentations. This project directly engaged 200 students and 10 teachers. Students focused on reducing waste within their school community by providing reusable items and completing seven community and campus cleanups, including at an illegal dumpsite across from their school.

In 2022, Simon A. Sanchez High School expanded their 6Rs project and accomplished the following:

  • Created an Ocean Guardians website with student-authored activities, such as digital escape rooms;
  • Installed 60 recycling bins and 11 compost bins;
  • Composted and mulched 119 kg of newspaper, 53 kg of cardboard, and almost 2,700 gallons of leaf waste for use on permaculture plots; and
  • Contributed at least 387 hours of student volunteer service.

In 2022, John F. Kennedy High School expanded their marine debris prevention initiatives and accomplished the following:

  • Received survey results from 306 students about barriers to recycling and using water bottle refilling stations;
  • Distributed 300 reusable bags;
  • Distributed 500 reusable bottles, preventing the use of 7,905 plastic bottles;
  • Organized and led seven cleanups events;
  • Collected approximately 15,000 pieces of trash;
  • Contributed over 4,500 hours of student volunteer service; ,
  • Cleaned up a large illegal dumpsite over several weekends.

In 2023, both schools endured the devastating impacts of Typhoon Mawar with Simon A. Sanchez High School and John F. Kennedy High School having to share a single campus on rotating schedules. Both schools preserved and continued their stewardship efforts throughout the school year. 

In 2023, John F. Kennedy High School successfully,

  • Completed five major clean-ups;
  • Collected data about microplastics at four sand sifting events and continued to refine the sand sifter designs;
  • Assisted with two tree plantings;
  • Removed invasive plants at Litekyan Wildlife Refuge and prepared Sagan Kotturan CHamoru land for garden establishment; and
  • Presented at the Guam Department of Education Service Learning Summit.

In 2023, Simon A. Sanchez High School successfully, 

  • Implemented 18 beach clean-ups throughout Tumon; 
  • Created 47 new songs about marine debris and the 6Rs;
  • Removed, disposed of, and recycled 525 gallons of beach trash; and
  • Generated 318 student service hours.
 

For citation purposes, unless otherwise noted, this article was authored by the NOAA Marine Debris Program.

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