Environmental stewardship is an integral aspect of the Montessori curriculum. It usually includes care of the school's setting (classrooms, grounds, gardens, eating areas, etc.) and, depending on each school's unique situation, ideally extends into the larger environment in which the school is situated. Environmental stewardship is meant to help students develop a consciousness of their place on Earth, with respect to their roles in protecting our planet's resources and future habitability; with that consciousness, they can extend understanding into action. Environmental stewardship often takes the form of community service, a typical component of Montessori school programs, especially at the Secondary level, where it is a natural fit with the adolescent's developmental need for independence and desire to make a difference in the world while participating in projects or activities that are also personally meaningful. During the 2014-2015 school year, Middle School students at Montessori Hale O Keiki (MHOK), a small, AMS-accredited Montessori school on Maui's south shore, were asked to select community service projects directly relevant to environmental and/or ecological issues on Maui. Participation in beach cleanups and invasive-plant removal at a significant Hawaiian archaeological preserve/wetlands refuge both brought about a deep sense of personal satisfaction, and the students' yearlong participation in the Coral Watch program truly "instill[ed] both the values of cultural and environmental stewardship with hands-on, student-centered research and critical skill development needed for success in 21st-century careers" (MHOK, 2015).