Texas A&M AgriLife: Plan-It Dunes and Plan-It Marsh

Overview

Texas Sea Grant is proud to support the Plan-It Projects, a coastal restoration education initiative that empowers students to protect and restore vulnerable shoreline habitats. Originally developed in Mississippi by wetland specialists and educators, the program combines classroom learning with hands-on habitat restoration through two tracks: Plan-It Marsh and Plan-It Dunes. These projects teach students to propagate and care for native marsh and dune plants throughout the school year, culminating in field-based restoration trips where they plant their cultivated vegetation at real-world coastal sites.

In 2024, the Plan-It Projects expanded to Texas with support from the Gulf of America Alliance and leadership from Dr. Stacy Hines of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas Sea Grant’s Coastal Resilience Specialist, April Taylor. At a teacher workshop hosted in Corpus Christi, educators from six Texas high schools selected either the marsh or dune track and committed to planting native vegetation—such as Bitter Panicum, Indian Blanket, Saltwort, and Smooth Cordgrass—at restoration sites in early 2025. That year, 271 students participated, helping propagate over 1,300 native plants and logging more than 120 volunteer hours. These efforts not only restore vital ecosystems but also build STEM skills, environmental awareness, and a lasting connection to coastal conservation.