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
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
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
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
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.
