Nickelodeon Video Highlights Chalmette Students' Coastal Restoration Efforts

By Amanda Moore, National Wildlife Federation

Nickelodeon’s “The Big Help” teamed up with National Wildlife Federation (NWF) for Earth Day 2011 to spotlight outstanding students making a difference in their communities through environmental stewardship. Sure enough, the search for awesome kids ended in St. Bernard Parish, where students in Chalmette High School’s Leadership Initiative have planted over 50,000 cypress trees since Hurricane Katrina. The students, who experienced first-hand the massive destruction of Katrina and the BP oil disaster, are very much aware of the importance of a healthy environment and are happy to get dirty and help restore their wetlands, protect their levees and provide wildlife habitat through the planting program.

The stars of Nickelodeon’s Victorious were on hand to give the students a thrill and lead a day of filming and fun. Footage highlighting student efforts and explaining the plight of the Louisiana wetlands played throughout Earth Day on Nickelodeon. Nickelodeon also donated $25,000 to St. Bernard Parish Schools to support the Leadership Initiative. Check out photos from the day here.

NWF’s Amanda Moore worked with Nickelodeon and St. Bernard Parish Schools on the shoot. “We were so glad to share the efforts of students in St. Bernard with kids across the nation,” said Amanda. “Having experienced so much loss and destruction in the last few years, the students have reacted with an eagerness to help their community recover and restore the coast. They have an amazing perspective and are an inspiration.”

Watch the video below about the day from our friends at Nickelodeon.

httpv://youtu.be/8csLnWdS6bU