GULF SHORES — Educators, environmental advocates and community leaders gathered Jan. 30 for the 12th-annual Sustainability Summit at The Lodge at Gulf State Park, an event hosted by the Alabama Coastal Foundation focused on practical solutions to environmental challenges facing Alabama's coast.

This year's theme, "Doing More with Less: Simple actions every person, business, nonprofit, school and governmental agency can implement to save money and help the environment," emphasized accessible, real-world strategies that participants can apply in their communities and classrooms.

Gulf Coast Media attended three sessions to observe a range of conversations on how education, design and consumer awareness can drive sustainable change.

KNOW, LOVE, PROTECT: BUILDING STUDENT STEWARDSHIP

Gulf Shores Middle School educators Anthony Schaff and Martha Morales shared how hands-on, project-based learning encourages students to connect environmental concepts to everyday life.

Schaff explained that one approach includes reused clothing drives where students trade secondhand clothes to learn about recycling, waste reduction and sustainable consumption.

"One of the goals is to help them realize that there's some sustainable ways to dress," Schaff said. "The idea that we don't have to buy new — we can wear clothes that our friends used to have and trade clothes."

He described how projects evolve each year, ranging from sustainable fashion made from discarded materials to oyster restoration and shoreline biodiversity research. The goal, he said, is to give students meaningful experiences that inspire action without overwhelming them.

"Because the world is changing, and sometimes it feels like it's changing faster than the solutions we have found," Schaff said. "So, to make sure that we're not leaving our kids feeling heavy but hopeful, we try to make sure that we have an action-oriented solution."

BIOMIMICRY: NATURE'S BLUEPRINT FOR DESIGN

Penny Ragland of Legacy, Partners in Environmental Education, an organization that provides science-based environmental information, education and training while cultivating a legacy of environmental stewardship in Alabama for generations, introduced biomimicry as a growing field that studies nature's systems and structures to inspire more sustainable human solutions. Her presentation focused on providing teachers with real-world examples they can use in classrooms to help students understand how nature influences modern technology and design.

"Our next example is also functional," Ragland said while describing the Lotus effect, which mimics the self-cleaning properties of lotus leaves to create water-repellent surfaces that reduce maintenance and chemical use.

She also discussed architecture inspired by termite mounds, glare-reducing technology modeled after moth eyes and search-and-rescue robots based on cockroach movement, emphasizing how these examples show students that sustainability and innovation are deeply connected.

SHRIMP TALES AND SEAFOOD TRANSPARENCY

Chandra Wright, director of environmental and educational outreach at The Lodge & Learning Campus at Gulf State Park, explained that much of the shrimp imported into the United States is farm-raised Pacific white shrimp, a non-native species. She emphasized the importance of sourcing domestic seafood, saying that local products are safer, fresher and more closely regulated.

"Our seafood in the United States is among the most tested in the world," Wright said.

She also discussed Alabama's seafood labeling law, which took effect Oct. 1, 2024, requiring restaurants and vendors to disclose whether seafood is domestic or imported and whether it is wild-caught or farm-raised. Wright said that events like the Annual National Shrimp Festival help educate the public while celebrating Alabama's fishing heritage.

"The Shrimp Festival is a great way to celebrate our fishermen and educate consumers at the same time," Wright said.

By highlighting education, innovation and accountability, the summit reinforced the role individuals and institutions play in protecting Alabama's coast. From classrooms and community programs to consumer choices and building design, speakers emphasized that sustainability is not limited to large-scale policy decisions but is shaped by everyday actions. Organizers said the summit's goal is to equip attendees with practical tools they can take back to their schools, workplaces and communities, strengthening long-term stewardship of Alabama's coastal resources.

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.