Educating for the Earth Jody Benson Sharp’s Mission to Inspire Environmental Literacy in Newport Beach

In the heart of Newport Beach, California, a coastal city known for its natural beauty and oceanfront charm, environmental education is taking center stage—thanks in large part to the efforts of one passionate advocate: Jody Benson Sharp. With a deep belief that knowledge drives change, Jody has devoted much of her environmental activism to ensuring that Earth Day isn’t just a day of celebration, but a launching point for lasting education and awareness in the community.

Through workshops, school programs, public seminars, and interactive learning experiences, Jody is empowering Newport Beach residents—young and old—to understand the planet’s challenges and take action toward solutions.

A Lifelong Belief in Learning

Jody Benson Sharp has always believed that education is the key to meaningful environmental change. As she often says, “We protect what we understand.” Her Earth Day initiatives are built on the principle that when people are equipped with the facts, they are far more likely to care, engage, and advocate for the planet.

Whether she’s working with schoolchildren or senior citizens, her goal is the same: to make complex environmental issues accessible, relatable, and inspiring.

Earth Day Education Programs for Schools

A cornerstone of Jody’s Earth Day strategy is her work with schools across Newport Beach. Recognizing that the future belongs to the next generation, she helps educators integrate sustainability themes into classrooms every April and beyond.

In 2025, she launched the “Earth Smart Kids” initiative—an educational program rolled out in elementary and middle schools during the month leading up to Earth Day. The curriculum includes:

• Climate science lessons tailored to each age group
• Hands-on activities like creating compost bins or building mini greenhouses
• Guest speakers including local conservationists and marine biologists
• Earth Day art and science fairs featuring student-created projects
• Ocean exploration field trips in collaboration with the Newport Bay Conservancy

Students not only learn about pressing topics like climate change, pollution, and habitat loss—they’re also encouraged to take ownership of solutions. Jody’s influence has helped schools set up eco-clubs, recycling stations, and garden projects that continue long after Earth Day ends.

Creating Lifelong Learners: Community Education

Jody’s passion for environmental education doesn’t stop with kids. She also designs and leads community education programs for adults who want to understand how they can live more sustainably.

At the Environmental Nature Center and Newport Beach Library, she hosts popular seminars on topics like:

• Living zero waste at home
• Reducing energy use and water waste
• Sustainable gardening with native California plants
• Understanding carbon footprints and how to reduce them
• Navigating climate policy as a concerned citizen

These sessions are designed to demystify sustainability and empower people to make small but meaningful changes. Attendees often leave with a toolkit full of practical steps they can implement immediately—whether it’s switching to compostable products or supporting local farmers.

Ocean Awareness: Learning from the Coast

Newport Beach’s stunning coastline is more than just a backdrop—it’s an educational tool in Jody’s Earth Day programming. She believes that by connecting people directly with nature, they become more invested in its protection.

For Earth Day, Jody organizes eco-walks, tidepool tours, and marine science workshops along the beach. During these events, participants learn:

• How tides and ocean currents affect marine life
• Why coastal habitats like wetlands are critical for biodiversity
• The impact of plastic pollution and how to reduce it
• Ways to get involved in citizen science and coastal protection

These immersive experiences are particularly impactful for families, turning Earth Day into an interactive learning opportunity that encourages a lifelong love of the ocean and its ecosystems.

Earth Day Resource Kits and Online Learning

In an age of digital learning, Jody has embraced technology to expand the reach of her Earth Day mission. For Earth Day 2025, she partnered with local designers and students to launch a digital “Earth Day Toolkit”—a free online resource filled with educational content, how-to guides, and challenges for all age groups.

Highlights include:

• Printable worksheets and coloring pages for young children
• Earth Day pledges and home sustainability checklists
• Interactive quizzes on climate science
• Video tutorials on starting a garden or compost bin
• A community calendar with upcoming green events

The toolkit has been shared widely across schools, libraries, and social media, helping people access valuable content wherever they are. It’s one of Jody’s most ambitious education projects to date and shows her dedication to making environmental learning inclusive and scalable.

Environmental Literacy and Civic Engagement

For Jody Benson Sharp, education isn’t just about facts—it’s also about action. That’s why she weaves civic engagement into her Earth Day campaigns, teaching community members how to advocate for environmental change through the democratic process.

She regularly hosts “Green Policy 101” sessions around Earth Day, where people can learn:

• How to speak at city council meetings
• How to write and submit public comments on environmental proposals
• How local legislation affects climate and sustainability goals
• What policies Newport Beach can adopt to strengthen environmental protections

By encouraging informed civic participation, Jody helps residents become not just educated citizens, but active changemakers. As a result, Newport Beach has seen growing public support for green policies like plastic bans, marine conservation zones, and sustainable urban planning.

Building a Culture of Learning

What truly distinguishes Jody Benson Sharp’s approach is her belief that education should never stop. Earth Day, in her view, is the beginning of a conversation—not the end. That’s why she continues to offer mentorship, support, and resources year-round to teachers, families, and community leaders who want to grow their environmental knowledge.

She has inspired dozens of Newport Beach residents to become educators in their own right—leading neighborhood composting workshops, starting school gardens, or forming local environmental clubs.

In the long term, Jody’s goal is to create a culture of learning and ecological curiosity that defines Newport Beach. Her dream is for every resident—regardless of age, background, or profession—to feel informed, empowered, and excited about playing a role in healing the planet.

A Lasting Legacy of Awareness

Thanks to Jody Benson Sharp’s efforts, Earth Day in Newport Beach is more than just an annual event—it’s a learning movement. Her tireless work to improve environmental literacy is shaping not just the minds of today, but the actions of tomorrow.

She often says, “When people know better, they do better.” And in Newport Beach, more and more people are choosing to do better for the Earth—because Jody made sure they knew how.