Summer Session 2 and 3

 July 15^th Workshop session

Sarah Larochelle, Fredericksburg Academy, is developing a multi-stage project.  She will involve her students in composting and using the compost to help grow seedlings that will be transplanted to a garden area.  She will also have students examine the soil in the garden area, looking at several factors.  This could lead to an opportunity to eventually study the soil where compost has been added, to see if the character of the soil changes.  Sarah is also planning to have students work with making paper – using waste materials that aren’t usually added to compost.

 August 5^th Workshop session

Several teachers attended this session with a variety of project ideas.  Megan Laskowski and Meredith Stalker, Courtland Elementary in Spotsylvania County, are planning a pollinator garden for their school, focusing on native plants.  They are considering using a Nature Journaling model to guide/engage students in recording their observations of the plants as they grow and the different insects that might be attracted to those plants.  They noted that the area they hope to use is often wet, which led to a discussion of the use of rain barrels or types of drainage ditches that might help solve the problem.

             Carla Waller and Beth Wiesner, Rockledge Elementary in Prince William County, are developing plans for a bird survey in a wooded area adjacent to their school.  This would involve the use of feeders.  We discussed various types of feeders that might be used to attract different types of birds.  We also discussed the possible problem of squirrels, and types of feeders (or birdseed) that are squirrel proof.  We also discussed the use of bird ID apps such as Merlin or BirdNet, and materials that will help the students observe the birds at the feeders (birdcams, spotting scopes, and binoculars.)

Gwenette Monroe, Hugh Mercer Elementary, Fredericksburg, and Christine Rigg, Salem Elementary in Spotsylvania, are both developing composting projects.  Gwenette is focusing on worm composting, introducing students not only to the ideas and processes of composting but also to the study of worms and the role they play in enriching soils.  The idea of getting the worms from local bait stores was discussed as a better alternative to relying on the worms that are delivered with the worm composting cabinet.  Christine is looking at several small classroom composting sets that allow students to closely observe the process of decomposition – and the changes in the soil and composted materials over time.  These kits also allow for side-by-side comparison of how different materials decompose. 

Resource Links:

Downtown Greens (downtowngreens.org) is a Fredericksburg-based nonprofit organization. An organic, urban green space that provides a number of garden-based youth programs.

Friends of the Rappahannock (riverfriends.org) is an organization that provides watershed related educational opportunities, advocates for the Rappahannock river, and engaged in a number of restoration projects along the river.

Tri-County/City Soil & Water Conservation District (tccswcd.org) provides “technical assistance, information, educational programs … to citizens on many aspects of water quality, pollution, and stream health.”