Godfrey Lee Elementary
Project Description:
This project involved working on advocating for and actually creating pollinator gardens. Last year we planted one pollinator garden. This coming year, we would like to plant at least one more, as well as providing students with additional opportunities to further explore and learn more about nature.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
We planted more than 100 plants in our pollinator garden. Many disappeared and will need to be replaced. I would like to continue with creating and advocating for pollinator gardens both at our school, at other schools, and in the community.
Partners:
Plaster Creek Stewards, WMEAC, Lee Middle School
Teachers:
1
Students:
18
Funder:
GVSU College of Education
Showcase Video:
https://youtu.be/0Qtye2HRRvM
Project Description:
This project involves students from Godfrey Elementary, and from some of our other schools, along with the community, possibly, in working on advocating for and actually creating pollinator gardens. In the 2018-19 school year we planted one pollinator garden. We have continued working on that garden and adding to its size and number of plants. The club continues providing students with additional opportunities to further explore and learn more about nature. My hope is that next school year we will return to a more normal setting that will allow the likes of meeting in person and going on field trips.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
We planted over 100 plants in our pollinator garden at first. We have planted many more since, to replace plants that disappeared, and to add to the plant numbers overall. I would like to continue with creating and advocating for pollinator gardens both at our school, at other schools, and in the community.
Partners:
West Michigan Environmental Action Council, Plaster Creek Watershed Stewards
Teachers:
John Maliepaard, 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade Science; Debbie Schuitema, K-2nd Grade Math Coach; Barbara Trotter, Kindergarten; Caitlin Hamilton, Kindergarten
Students:
11
Funder:
Independent Bank, the Wege Foundation
Showcase Video:
Project Description:
This project involves enhancing a bioswale located at the City of Wyoming Yard Waste Drop-off, [and began in 2019]. Currently the bioswale receives nutrient rich runoff from the yard waster parking lot. The bioswale is lawn with a low drain. The improvements implemented with these project funds will revegetate a portion of the bioswale with native plants selected by the students. Also Wyoming public work will raise the drain to result in longer detention of stormwater. This drain eventually leads to plaster creek. By doing this project less stormwater will enter the degraded Plaster Creek.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
We’ve had a lot of stop and start with activities, this school year, but I believe that several students have been developing a greater interest in the environment, and care more about what can be done, on behalf of the environment.
Partners:
West Michigan Environmental Action Council, Plaster Creek Stewards
Teachers:
John Maliepaard, 3rd-7th grade, All Subjects
Students:
26
Funder:
Michigan Department of the Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, Environmental Protection Agency
Showcase Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPNRjJBT7Ik&list=PLV2DqaYFEsPwEUUHkVf4EWeARMMgZa9NL&index=28
