Shored Up is thrilled to be part of the team that received both a regional National Park Service Award and the prestigious National Excellence in Education Award. Shored Up owners, Claire Neubert and Linda Hamm travelled to Washington DC on August 24th to join team members at the National Park Service awards ceremony.
As a partner, Shored Up developed and instituted a program for all Hampton City school Fifth grade students and their teachers. The program, which was held at historic Fort Monroe, weaved together education on watersheds, oysters, the First Africans, black waterman, Historic Quarters One and the famous Algernourne Oak. Local history and heritage along with present-day environmental efforts were aimed at instilling pride of place in being a Hampton student as well as inspiring stewardship. Neubert and Hamm state, " It is an honor to receive these awards, and yet it is truly the privilege of being able to provide this experience to teachers and our next generation that makes our hearts beat strong".
This pilot program was funded by the National Park Foundation Open Outdoors for Kids Grant. Shored up was a local partner with the following organizations that collaborated to provide this program for the 2021-2022 school year: National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways Network (NPS Chesapeake Gateways), the James River Association, Hampton City Schools, Fort Monroe National Monument, Fort Monroe Authority, and the City of Hampton.
