Eastern High School
Project Description:
Students implemented an edible schoolyard on campus. They explored and developed the edible garden through guest speakers and other research. Students also removed invasive species and planted native plants.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Students are more aware of the role water plays in the local food system.
Partners:
Hoffmaster State Park and State Park Naturalists, Dune conservationists, Ada Township Parks, MI Natural Resources Steward
Teachers:
2
Students:
207
Funder:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Showcase Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5f2NImAPxLc
Project Description:
Groundswell funds were used to build a school-wide compost structure outdoors and to purchase indoor collection containers. Students assembled a hoop house and started seeds for a vegetable garden.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Students will be able to implement this knowledge into their future family and community lives.
Partners:
Groundswell Community Farm, Blandford Nature Center, Quality Farm and Fleet
Teachers:
2
Students:
190
Funder:
Baldwin Foundation
Showcase Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTTsTBXHaNc
Project Description:
Seventh-graders germinated the seeds and planted their “Three sisters gardens” in the edible schoolyard. The seventh through twelfth grade human anatomy students germinated the seeds and planted an extensive vegetable garden. The AP Physics students built an irrigation system that waters all the gardens.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
The recent partnership with Beacon Hill helped the students use their knowledge to rototill, plant, and fertilize the gardens while working alongside Chef Tim and residents.
Partners:
Beacon Hill, Family Farm and Home, MSU Master Gardener Volunteers
Teachers:
2
Students:
230
Funder:
Baldwin Foundation
Showcase Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcwAGEpw2Dk
Project Description:
Wayfinder Navigators is an interdisciplinary class for ninth graders focusing on Biology, Health, and PE and includes an outdoor-based, environmental, inquiry, purpose-seeking curriculum. The students hiked on the North Country Trail (100 mile challenge) and went on a year-end backpacking trip, where they used orienteering and navigation skills.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Students know how to remove invasive species and the importance in removing invasive species.
Partners:
North Country Trail, Fortune Bay Expedition Team
Teachers:
2
Students:
32
Funder:
GVSU College of Education
Showcase Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVZzjscfNLY
Project Description:
The Wayfinder navigators is an interdisciplinary class for 9th graders. It is a two-hour block that focuses on biology, health, and PE. It includes an outdoor-based, environmental, inquiry, purpose-seeking curriculum. The Groundswell project in 2017-2018 began work to create a hiking trail in the 20 wooded acres adjacent to the school. The project this year was to create an outdoor learning classroom in the woods and continue developing the hiking trail into a guided-learning nature trail.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
The students understand their responsibilities and impact on the woodland ecosystem where the classroom, group “campsites,” and the nature trail are located.
Partners:
North Country Trail Association
Teachers:
2
Students:
152
Funder:
GVSU College of Education
Showcase Video:
https://youtu.be/eWRWvZ_pRug