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Lead
Teacher, Caroline Moffat, engaged her 7th grade
honors science class in planning and installing a 135 square
foot rain garden and planting 3 trees on the school grounds.
The students planted 73 native plants in the rain garden and
3 trees outside of the garden.
CI's
Outreach Coordinator, Molly Barkman, delivered educational
lessons on watersheds and non-point source pollution.
Students learned that polluted waterways start on the land
and practices upstream. Students investigated the effects of
extra nutrients being introduced to streams and the harmful
effects it creates in the aquatic food chain.
On a chilly spring day students surveyed a location at the
school where a rain garden would be both a beautification
project along with a functional project for the school
grounds. Students were able to identify the stormwater
runoff pollution traveling from the visitor’s parking lot
into a depressed grassy area that had a storm drain. The
students knew that the drain was leading to a nearby stream. |
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The idea developed to capture the water before it could
enter the storm drain. The area was soggy from a recent
rain. Adding a rain garden and some trees would be able to
decrease the standing water in the area. |
On Earth Day CI staff, Molly Barkman and Frank Rodgers
prepared the location for planting. The rain garden was
measured, outlined and tilling began. Sand was added
to the soil to help increase the porosity allowing more
water to infiltrate the ground. |
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On April 26 one class of students began the project. The
students self-designated working on the rain garden and the
tree planting. Students working in the rain garden started
by distributing the plants according to the planting map to
ensure the plants correct location in the rain garden.
The students observed a planting demo given by Molly Barkman
and began planting half of the plants in the garden. |
Students planting the trees began by digging the holes for
the trees to be placed in. Frank Rodgers, Executive
Director, worked with the students to ensure the holes were
the correct depth and width. The students received a
planting demo to ensure the tree is at the proper depth, a
very important step for survival. |
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After the classes changed, the second period class worked to
finish the planting in the rain garden and the remaining
tree. These students also
worked to mulch the rain garden area, the new trees, and
some surrounding trees already on campus. |
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At the end of the day students were able to get their hands
dirty and have a great learning experience outside. |
The trees will work to capture the extra water entering the
depressed area decreasing the soggy ground in that area.
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The students played a key role in decreasing the about of
stormwater runoff pollution entering the stream while adding
a visually appealing garden to the front of the school for
visitors to enjoy. |
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