Growing a Community of Great Lakes Learners
Growing a Community of Great Lakes Experts
Growing a Community of Great Lakes Stewards
The Center for Great Lakes Literacy (CGLL, pronounced “sea gull”) is a collaborative effort led by Sea Grant educators throughout the Great Lakes watershed. CGLL fosters a community of Great Lakes and freshwater stewards by engaging, inspiring and supporting educators, scientists, and youth.
CGLL Fosters a Community of Great Lakes Stewards
Our resource library is a dynamic and ever-expanding collection, meticulously curated for educators, scientists, and students alike. Each curriculum, lesson, and resource undergoes a comprehensive review process by our dedicated CGLL team of specialists to ensure the highest quality and relevance.
By December 2025, we aim to feature over 150 top-tier resources in our library, all carefully vetted and regularly updated to support Great Lakes learning and discovery.
CGLL has proudly supported 238 educators aboard the EPA’s R/V Lake Guardian, the largest research vessel on the Great Lakes, where they worked alongside scientists, conducting hands-on research and gaining valuable insights into freshwater ecosystems.
This immersive experience allowed them to collect data, analyze environmental factors, and bring real-world scientific knowledge back to their classrooms, enriching learning and inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
Surrounded by more than 10,000 miles (+17,000 kilometers) of breathtaking coastline, the Great Lakes are truly a “diamond on the hand of North America,” a beautiful description penned by children’s author Shel Silverstein.
At CGLL, we are dedicated to cultivating a community of Great Lakes-literate individuals who are empowered to steward these vital freshwater resources and protect the interconnected ecosystems they support.
The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system on our planet. Yet, sometimes it’s difficult to find educational resources for this freshwater treasure in one place.
What’s so cool about the Great Lakes?
The Great Lakes contain about 20% of the world’s fresh surface water with about 6 quadrillion gallons (22.7 quadrillion liters) of freshwater – enough to submerge the entire continental United States in nearly 10 feet of water! The Great Lakes system includes five Great Lakes – Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario – and also Lake St. Clair, Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence River, connecting channels, along with many harbors and bays. Another way to remember the names of the five Great Lakes is the acronym HOMES – which stands for Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior.
Dive into our Great Lakes Lessons & Resources
Sea Grant and its partners are creating a resource library featuring lessons and media designed to help educators and learners engage with and safeguard this invaluable freshwater treasure.
Get your feet wet by joining us for immersive learning deep dives!
CGLL provides diverse professional learning opportunities as well as unique place-based education offerings for youth. These include shipboard science experiences, shoreside events, virtual learning (both live and self-paced), and more.