Claire Saltonstall Education Program (CSEP) 

The Trustees established the Claire Saltonstall Education Program (CSEP) in 1991 to provide place-based education for island school children.

Through the CSEP, students have the opportunity to engage with Trustees’ properties while conducting field studies that align with school curriculum frameworks. Place-based education emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning. Students living on Martha’s Vineyard are encouraged to learn, explore, lead, and problem-solve through the CSEP.

Each program generally consists of an in-class component followed by a field session. (Browse the properties featured in the program using the gallery to the left.)

Through the CSEP the Trustees seek to: establish a personal relationship between students and the natural world by conducting original research and hands-on activities on Trustees properties; Increase island students’ familiarity with properties owned by The Trustees on Martha’s Vineyard; and Create meaningful connections with Vineyard organizations that focus on children, youth, and families.


Allowing our students to access a wide variety of natural locations on the island while learning about native species, geology, and the history of land use was a treat. Many of our students had never been to the locations that we visited.
— MV Regional High School Teacher
[The Trustees staff] was truly excellent at tailoring education for our group. Their love for our community, teaching, and for children was evident in the way they taught. We are lucky to have such a great resource!
— Grades K-1 Teacher

As this program continues into its 28th year in 2019–2020, Trustees is looking to focus on educating a diverse group of island youth while concentrating on coastal studies.

The next steps for the CSEP include reinforcing a coastal studies curriculum, developing programs to align with new state-wide science curriculum frameworks, expanding the summer internship program for high school students, and building out a replicable climate change program package. A highlight of this year is the collaboration we continue to build with The FARM Institute through shared school and public programming.

For more information about grade-by-grade school-based programs, public and community programs, internships and professional development, download the CSEP annual report by clicking the PDF to the right.

Are you a teacher on Martha’s Vineyard and interested in scheduling one of our programs? Click here for more information and next steps.