Fire Safe Marin’s Student Partnership
Since 2020, Fire Safe Marin has been a proud community partner of the Marin School of Environmental Leadership (MSEL) at Terra Linda High School. Twice per year, Fire Safe Marin collaborates with a cohort of six ninth-grade students on a fast-paced, 12-week LEAD (Leadership in Environmental Action and Design) project focused on wildfire resilience and public engagement.
These projects give students hands-on experience translating classroom learning into meaningful community action. The effort also supports Fire Safe Marin’s mission to strengthen wildfire preparedness across Marin County.
What Is MSEL?
MSEL is a competitive, four-year program that students apply to while still in middle school. It blends environmental literacy, leadership development, and project-based learning, allowing students to work directly with community partners on real-world challenges. Through this model, students build the core “4Cs” (Communication, Critical thinking, Creativity, and Collaboration) skills that prepare them for college, careers, and civic leadership.
The LEAD Project
Central to the MSEL program is the LEAD project, in which students work in small teams to design and carry out a project with a community partner. The semester-long effort is guided by structured milestones and reflection points.
Each semester begins with an introduction to wildfire science and Fire Safe Marin’s role in the community, including education on wildfire behavior, home hardening, fire-resilient landscaping, and evacuation readiness. Students then develop SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals for their LEAD project. Fire Safe Marin provides subject-matter expertise and resources, while students lead the planning and execution.
Much of the project structure is supported by MSEL’s lead teacher, Karen Madden. She coordinates the overall MSEL program, including student recruitment, community partner outreach, dual-enrollment coordination with the College of Marin, and collaboration with other Terra Linda teachers.
For the LEAD projects, when students are not meeting with Fire Safe Marin, Madden helps guide their progress. Her efforts include brainstorming presentation ideas, proofreading written work, and facilitating group discussions. Early in the semester, Madden creates a detailed timeline with key assignments such as a project proposal presentation, elevator pitch, and annotated bibliography. Students spend about two hours per week on LEAD work, with additional class time focused on project management, public speaking, and presentation skills.
Growing Leaders Through Action
Over the past six years, MSEL students working with Fire Safe Marin have completed a wide range of impactful projects. Students have organized broom pulls with San Pedro Ridge Fire Safety, delivered wildfire preparedness lessons to younger peers, and co-tabled at community events. They have also applied their creative skills in meaningful ways, such as producing short educational videos, conducting school-wide surveys to increase Alert Marin sign ups, and publishing student written articles focused on wildfire adaptation.
At the end of each semester, students deliver a formal presentation to peers, parents, teachers, and community partners that showcases both their wildfire-preparedness work and their personal growth. Each team also completes a creative reflection highlighting their learning, collaboration, and problem-solving throughout the project.
By completing MSEL, students gain real-world leadership experience while meaningfully contributing to Marin’s wildfire resilience, supported by strong community partnerships, consistent mentorship, and clear structure.
