KIDS for the BAY (KftB) collaborates with teachers to inspire environmental consciousness in children and cultivate a love of learning. We are committed to education through action and to restoring a healthy environment for all communities.

KIDS for the BAY is an environmental education project which partners with school communities in the San Francisco Bay Area to cleanup and restore creek and bay habitats, reduce pollution and make safe choices about consuming bay food to reduce health risks. KftB provides professional development for teachers and academic enrichment for students in exciting and innovative programs which address local environmental issues in science-based, integrated curricula at the elementary school level. Students recruit their families, friends and neighbors to participate in community environmental action projects which they design.

 

Each year our students:

  • Plant hundreds of trees and wildflowers along urban creeks,
  • Remove tons of garbage from creek and bay habitats,
  • Raise tree frogs in their classrooms to release back into the local habitat,
  • Design and distribute creative outreach materials to educate their communities about reducing urban runoff pollution,
  • Express their concerns about pollution and environmental justice issues using letter writing campaigns, interviews with politicians and play performances,
  • Interview people fishing on bay piers about safe bay food consumption and distribute informational flyers in seven different languages,
  • Demonstrate safe bay fish cooking to their families and teach the safety precautions that reduce health risks when eating fish from the bay.

    Since the creation of KIDS for the BAY, 850 teachers and 24,000 students have participated in our programs. We currently partner with 140 teachers and 3,500 students each year in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Over 80% of our students are children of color in low-income, urban schools.

From left to right in photograph:

Mandi Billinge, Executive Director, founded Kids for the Bay and has directed program development and organization expansion for the past eleven years. Mandi has a B.S. Honors Degree in Biology from England, specializing in freshwater and estuarine ecology, a Teaching Credential from Leeds University, England and the Development Director's Certificate from the University Of San Francisco.

Krystal Robinson Justice, Program Director, has experience working in social justice nonprofits, a teaching credential from New College of California and a B.A. from Harvard University.

Kristina Cervantes-Yoshida, Program Director and East Bay native, has a science and teaching background. She received her undergraduate degree in biology and marine science from Smith College.

Anthony DeCicco, Program Director, has a diverse environmental and teaching background. He is currently studying the Master's Degree Program in Education at CSU Hayward.

Shefali Shah, Education Director, has a Teaching Credential and a Master's Degree in International and Environmental Literacy for Teaching from New College in San Francisco. Shefali is bilingual and has translated our educational materials into Spanish. Shefali is in her fourth year with KIDS for the BAY and is responsible for program and curriculum development, staff development and teaching KftB programs.

Keturah Ashfield, Program Director, has a background in outdoor education with the National Park Service and is an Oberlin graduate with a degree in Environmental Studies.

Sheela Shankar, Education Director, has a B.S. Honors Degree in Environmental Science. She is studying her Master's Degree in Education at CSU Hayward. Sheela is in her fourth year with KIDS for the BAY and is responsible for program and curriculum development, staff development and teaching KftB programs.