Project Description: Students began the project with a walk around the campus to find
an appropriate area for planting a buffer garden. During a day of
heavy rain, they went outside to see the run-off first hand. Students
realized there were two main areas in need of a buffer garden. The
classes then completed soil filtration tests on both areas, and
decided an area in the front parking lot would be most suitable for a
native plant garden. In May, students removed sod and clay, then
spread soil in the area. They created a grid for planting using steaks
and string. In June, students and volunteers from Plaster Creek
Stewards planted the Michigan native plants.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students now appreciate the role native vegetation plays in
reducing nonpoint source pollution.
Project Description: Students led the improvement of a native plant buffer garden by
tapping into community experts, using technology, and applying
communication skills to a real-world problem. To accomplish this,
students were divided into teams. Each team was in charge of
researching and developing a solution to a separate part of the
project. For example, one team was in charge of designing and
purchasing the information signs for the garden. Another team
researched cost-effective erosion prevention, while a third team
worked on a presentation to elementary students. All students met with
members of the Plaster Creek Stewards to learn about reducing water
pollutants entering our local waterways. Students applied the
information and research from Plaster Creek Stewards to complete the
maintenance and improvement of the garden.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: This project provided students with a feeling of empowerment and
responsibility for their own learning. This learning experience should
lead to a lifelong interest in the environment and bring a greater
awareness of the world around them.
Project Description: Crestwood PEAKS students worked on maintaining and improving the
buffer garden built the previous year on campus. In the spring,
students weeded and replenished soil and mulch. Due to substantial
erosion, students developed a plan to strategically place large rocks
to reroute the flow of water from the parking lot and reduce erosion.
Students also situated landscape edging around the garden to further
protect it from erosion and prevent people from walking through.
Crestwood also is partnered with Steelcase to implement buffer gardens
throughout their campus. Eighth-grade students presented information
to elementary school groups about the importance of keeping pollutants
out of storm drains.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: This project provided students with a feeling of empowerment and
responsibility of their own learning. Students walked away realizing
that solving a problem outdoors in their own community is possible.
This learning experience should lead to a lifelong interest in the
environment and bring a greater awareness of the world around us.
Partners: Landscape Impressions Design and Garden Center INC.; Rebecca
Marquardt, Landscape Architect; Steelcase
Project Description: Crestwood Middle School students partnered with Steelcase again
this spring to plant another portion of their bioswale. Students
harvested seeds from the rain garden on Crestwood’s campus and
stratified the seeds over the winter months by making seed bombs.
Students also started growing their own native plants in the classroom.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students now have a deeper knowledge of problems outside the four
walls of a classroom. This year-long learning experience guided
students into a lifelong interest in their environment, continued
commitment in educating the community about storm drain pollutants,
and greater awareness the world around them.
Partners: Landscape Impressions Design and Garden Center Inc., Landscape
Architect Rebecca Marquardt, Steelcase
Project Description: Crestwood Middle School students partnered with Steelcase again
this spring to plant another portion of their bioswale. Students
harvested seeds from the rain garden on Crestwood’s campus and
stratified the seeds over the winter months by making seed bombs.
Students also started growing our own native plants in the classroom.
All of our seed bombs and plant plugs were used at Steelcase, as well
as for replenishing our own rain garden.
Sixth grade students will concentrate on improving Crestwood’s
bioswale. We have seen a significant loss in plants during the last
two years. Students retrieved soil samples and created tests to solve
the problem. We planted according to the findings.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: This project provided students with a feeling of empowerment and
responsibility of their own learning. Students walked away with the
realization that solving a problem outdoors in their own community is
possible. This learning experience will lead to a lifelong interest in
the environment and bring a greater awareness of the world around us.
Partners: Steelcase, Revery, Landscape Impressions Design and Garden Center Inc.
