The Living Breakwaters project is widely recognized as a model for nature-based climate adaptation infrastructure. In addition to enhancing physical resilience and restoring oyster and finfish habitat along a stretch of Tottenville’s coastline, the project demonstrates how innovative, resilient infrastructure design can be paired with long-term community engagement and education. For over a decade, SCAPE, the State of New York, and the Billion Oyster Project have worked with community members, the public, and students to build awareness of coastal adaptation and encourage shoreline stewardship through hands-on learning. As part of this effort, they co-developed the Living Breakwaters Curriculum, an open-access curriculum for teachers to bring this real-world case study into the classroom.

Download the Living Breakwaters Curriculum Case Study