Noteworthy: This courtyard transformation is the perfect example of if you build it, they will come. While the courtyard is entirely surrounded by buildings, before the plants were all in the ground and watered, butterflies, birds and other wildlife were investigating the offerings. Since then a family of ducks has used the space as a nesting site. Windows allow observation of the courtyard gardens from several classrooms, the halls and the library. Students buzz excitedly about the seasonal changes and visitors to their gardens.
Before
After
Planting the Garden
Planting
Bushy Park Elementary School
Location: Glenwood, MD
Type of Habitat: Wet Meadow
Installed: 10/9/2009
Area Size: 1,500 sq ft
Cost: $2,650
Supported by: Chesapeake Bay Trust
Number of Students: 600
Design: Environmental Concern and Bushy Park E. S.
Noteworthy: This project was a remarkable school-wide effort in which parents, teachers and students came together for a Wetland Learning Day. The school went above and beyond the traditional classroom approach utilizing Environmental Concern’s Wandering Travelling Trunk, various wetland education stations, Wetland on Wheels, planting groups, games and more to send a message of stewardship home with their students.
Before
Prepared Site
Planting Day
After
John Eaton Elementary School
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Habitat: Habitat Garden
Installed: April 13, 2010
Area Size: 500 sq ft
Cost: $990
Supported by: WWDC and NOAA grant
Number of Students Involved: 60
Design: Environmental Concern & John Eaton E.S.
Noteworthy: Three fourth grade classes participated in this project, learning all about the habitats of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. The garden is an addition to a planting from 2008 and part of a walking trail and other new native landscaping installed around the school this year. Classes made posters to display around the school about how to be more environmentally friendly.
Before
After
Planting
Planting
Completed Project
Barnard Elementary School
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Habitat: Habitat Garden
Phase II Installed: May 5, 2010
Area Size: 500 sq ft
Cost: $712
Supported by: WWDC and NOAA grant
Number of Students Involved: 60
Design: Environmental Concern & Barnard E.S.
Noteworthy: Three fourth grade classes supplemented their butterfly habitat garden, created in 2008, by planting 250 additional native plants with high pollinator value, weeding and placing 11 cubic yards of mulch in the habitat. This action project allowed the students to see the existing habitat garden transform from a nice garden located outside their school into a fantastic outdoor classroom with the addition of two more benches, spider frames, and signage. The students’ habitat work was the finale of numerous in-class sessions where students learned wetland basics and watershed science.
Before weeding and planting
After Planting
Planting
Planting
Carying Mulch
Pulling Weeds
River Terrace Elementary School
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Habitat: Rain Garden
Installed: May 11, 2010
Area Size: 500 sq ft
Cost: $2,820
Supported by: WWDC and NOAA grant
Number of Students Involved: 90
Design: Environmental Concern & River Terrace E.S
Noteworthy: Over ninety students from 3rd-5th grade participated in the transformation of a grassy area into a 500 square foot, three-pool rain garden system and an outdoor classroom area. Thanks to the hard work of Severn Grove Ecological Design, who completed the excavation, this rain garden really blossomed. Because of the planting day’s rainy weather, the students immediately saw the accumulation of rain water in the rain garden. It was great to see the obvious watershed connection!
Before
After
Severn Grove Ecological Design assists with excavation.
Planting
Planting
Roof down-spout drains into garden.
Brookland Elementary School
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Habitat: Habitat Garden
Phase II Installed: May 18, 2010
Area Size: 500 sq ft
Cost: $890
Supported by: WWDC and NOAA grant
Number of Students Involved: 55
Design: Environmental Concern & Brookland E.S.
Noteworthy: Two fourth grade classes were involved in the planning and planting of this garden as an addition to a garden begun in 2007 and revisited in 2009. This year a path was lengthened to continue through the entire garden so that students can weave their way through the plantings. The latest plantings focused on winter persistent species and evergreens to make sure that the garden has visual interest and habitat offerings all year round.
Before Planting
After Planting
Planting Lesson
Planting Day
Planting
Watkins Elementary School
Location: Washington, D.C.
Type of Habitat: Habitat Garden/Rain Garden
Phase II Installed: May 21, 2010
Area Size: 500 sq ft
Cost: $765
Supported by: WWDC and NOAA grant
Number of Students Involved: 100
Design: Environmental Concern & Watkins E.S
Noteworthy: Five fourth grade classes participated in this project, learning all about the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Each student designed a page all about one of the species planted and combined them as a class field guide to the habitat. This area was created as a rain garden and native planting in 2008 and expanded this year with a new group of students and 200 new plants.
Before
After
Planting in expanded garden.
Planting Day
Georgetown Elementary School
Location: Georgetown, DE
Type of Habitat: Freshwater Marsh
Installed: May 27, 2010
Area Size: 1,000 sq ft
Cost: $1,650
Supported by: Center for Inland Bays and the Chichester DuPont Foundation
Number of Students Involved: 550
Design: Environmental Concern & Georgetown E.S
Noteworthy: This wetland was created to contain runoff from the nearby storage building. Stepping stones were placed along the perimeter of the pond area so that each student from a visiting class would have a special place to stand. Every student from the school was able to participate in the planting of 900 plants.
Before
After Planting
Soil evaluation
6 Months After Planting
Georgetown Middle School
Location: Georgetown, DE
Type of Habitat: Freshwater Marsh with Island
Installed: June 8, 2010
Area Size: 3,000 sq ft
Cost: $2,100
Supported by: Center for Inland Bays and the Chichester DuPont Foundation
Number of Students Involved: 600
Design: Environmental Concern & Georgetown M.S.
Noteworthy: A team of selected students and teachers came together to work on this design and help with the planning of the project. The wetland was designed to contain a large amount of runoff coming from a nearby housing development. The area had been frequently flooding and was often unusable. The bridge was added as an Eagle Scout project.
Before
During Excavation
Planting instructions
Planting the wetland.
After
3 Months after planting.
Natural Resource Conservation Council (NRCS) Office
Location: Dover, DE
Type of Habitat: Rain Garden
Installed: June 8, 2010
Area Size: 400 sq ft
Cost: $2,500
Supported by: Partnership for DE Estuary and NOAA
Number of Students Involved: 24
Design: Environmental Concern & Georgetown M.S.
Noteworthy: This project was installed as a part of a large Rain Garden initiative in Delaware. The NRCS offered a site at their office park and invited first graders from a neighboring school to help with the planting. The Rain Garden will filter a large quantity of water running off of the parking area and serve as a demonstration area for the community.
Completed wetland