Empowering Youth Through Media Arts and Environmental Education
The Impact of Outside The Lens’ Whale Tail Program

Environmental education and creative expression are powerful tools for shaping the next generation of advocates for our planet. Outside The Lens (OTL), through the support of the California Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail® grant, successfully integrated these two elements, providing students with hands-on experiences that inspire environmental stewardship and media arts skills. Over the past two years, OTL’s Whale Tail program engaged young learners in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood, fostering awareness, creativity, and action through field trips, photography, videography, and community engagement.

Reaching Under-resourced Communities

The program partnered with Ibarra Elementary School, a public school in City Heights, a vibrant yet underserved community in San Diego. This neighborhood is home to a diverse population, with more than 30 languages spoken and a significant percentage of residents being immigrants or refugees. With 100 unique students participating over two years and dozens of community members attending exhibitions, the program not only served students but also engaged families, educators, and local organizations in a broader conversation about environmental awareness and artistic expression.

Immersive Learning and Environmental Stewardship

Through collaborations with I Love a Clean San Diego (ILACSD) and the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (TRNERR), students gained firsthand experience in environmental science and conservation. Key activities included:

Field Trips: Visits to the Tijuana River Estuary and Cabrillo National Monument, where students observed and documented local ecosystems.

Science-Based Learning: Hands-on research activities such as identifying plankton, birds, and salt marsh plants while learning about pollution’s impact on waterways.

Advocacy Through Media Arts: Students created public service announcements (PSAs), capturing their experiences and promoting environmental responsibility.

Community Clean-Up Initiatives: Organizing and participating in on-campus trash collection days, collectively removing 22 pounds of litter.

These immersive experiences strengthened students’ connection to nature while reinforcing STEM learning in an engaging, interactive way.

A Lasting Legacy: Inspiring Future Generations

The Whale Tail program at Ibarra Elementary demonstrates the transformative power of combining media arts and environmental education. By empowering students to tell their own environmental stories, OTL broadens their knowledge and fosters a sense of ownership and advocacy for their local ecosystems.

As the program moves forward, enhancing watershed education, expanding conservation efforts, and strengthening community engagement will be key priorities. Through continued partnerships, funding, and innovative programming, Outside The Lens is committed to inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards and storytellers.

Are you interested in Outside The Lens programming at your school? Contact us to find out more: programs@outsidethelens.org .