In January 2001, the idea of incorporating studies of the Scarborough marsh in a more intentional way into Scarborough’s K-12 academic program was suggested by Friends of  Scarborough Marsh – "a coalition of private citizens and organizations pledged to conserve, protect, restore, and enhance the Scarborough marsh watershed". This past Spring, the Director of Curriculum and Assessment, interested teachers, and community volunteers gathered regularly to give shape and direction to SEEC, the Scarborough Estuarine Ecosystem Curriculum Project. Together we developed a vision for SEEC, discussed SEEC goals and desired learner outcomes.

The summer effort was launched with a June Community Conference. Seventeen individuals/institutions from around the State, each with an interest in the Scarborough marsh and its related watershed system, presented their work and resources to each other as well as to Scarborough teachers. A video recording of the event has been aired on the Scarborough television access channel and is available to teachers.

During July and August, 12 teachers representing all phase levels (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) came together to develop learning investigations to implement this fall. This was the first time Scarborough teachers have collaborated across all grade levels to develop a K-12 integrated experience around a single topic. The exercise proved very enriching.

Inspired by SEEC’s potential to integrate the K-12 curriculum, the teachers assessed their current academic program for each phase level, and identified unifying/common concepts and themes which crossed the K-12 spectrum. It is around these 4 concepts --- structure, cycles, interdependence, and change --- that the topic of the Scarborough marsh and its related watershed will be woven. The teachers developed 2 programs that were implemented this fall: a multi-grade "Eco-investigation" involving field trips led by high school student mentors, and an in-depth Watershed Investigations Project involving research by the students in three high school Biology classes.