Grant from Edison International Foundation Expands STEM Learning at Crystal Cove
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2025
Grant from Edison International Foundation Expands STEM Learning at Crystal Cove
Crystal Cove State Park, CA — Crystal Cove Conservancy has received a $15,000 grant from the Edison International Foundation to support hands-on STEM education programs serving students across Orange County. The funding will help expand field-based science learning at Crystal Cove State Park and ensure that students from underserved communities can participate fully in these immersive educational experiences.
For more than fifteen years, Edison has been a valued partner in advancing STEM education at Crystal Cove. Together, the partnership has helped transform the park into a dynamic outdoor classroom where students investigate real environmental challenges through scientific research and engineering design.
The Conservancy’s STEM programs invite students to learn science by doing—collecting data, studying coastal and backcountry ecosystems, and working alongside scientists, park managers, and educators. Programs serve students from elementary school through high school, building scientific skills and confidence while helping young people see themselves as future scientists, engineers, and environmental stewards.
A key focus of the 2026 initiative is the Fire Ecology Internship, which introduces high school students to the science of wildfire and landscape resilience. Students conduct field research, analyze ecological recovery, and present their findings to community partners.
Each year, Crystal Cove Conservancy’s education programs engage more than 10,000 students, with more than 75 percent coming from Title I schools and historically underrepresented communities. By covering transportation and program costs, the Conservancy ensures that students who may live only miles from the coast can access meaningful science learning in the natural environment.
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About Crystal Cove Conservancy
Crystal Cove Conservancy is the nonprofit partner of Crystal Cove State Park, dedicated to protecting the park’s natural, cultural, and historic resources while inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards. The Conservancy achieves its mission through STEM education programs, habitat restoration, community engagement, and preservation of the park’s iconic beach cottages.
Media Contact
Jessica Arnaldo
Marketing & Communications Manager
Crystal Cove Conservancy
jessica@crystalcove.org