What We Do

Held at Tybee Oyster Company's floating oyster farm, ECO's teacher workshops give educators a firsthand look at oyster aquaculture and the tools to bring it back to the classroom. Participants explore the farm, discuss STEAM connections, and leave with ideas for place-based lessons they can use right away.

ECO brings coastal education directly to the school. Visits offer an in-depth, STEAM-focused exploration of oyster aquaculture and coastal ecology, connecting curriculum to the living ecosystems right in students' backyards.

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Students visit Tybee Oyster Company for a hands-on day on the water. ECO's two field trip formats — Boat to Farm and FLUPSY — include activities like water quality testing, marine invertebrate identification, and exploration of the FLUPSY oyster nursery. Both are designed to connect students with the coastal ecosystem through direct experience.

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ECO offers two formats depending on the educator's needs — a travel-based session that provides foundational knowledge in oyster aquaculture and coastal ecology, and an on-farm experience at Tybee Oyster Company where participants get hands-on time with the floating farm and explore how aquaculture concepts translate into classroom lessons.

In partnership with UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and Shell to Shore, ECO engages students in hands-on coastal restoration through oyster shell bagging. The recycled shells are used to build oyster reefs that stabilize shorelines and support the long-term health of Georgia's coastal ecosystems.

ECO participates in STEM nights, community gatherings, and public events to share the world of oysters and aquaculture with audiences of all ages. Through these interactions, ECO works to build broader awareness of the ecological role oysters play and why sustainable coastal practices matter in Georgia.