Project Description: Sparta students planted about 3,500 native plants on both sides
of a ditch located between the parking lot and back field of a ball
diamond at Sparta Middle School. The ditch is about 140 yards long and
eight yards wide. Storm water exits from the ditch to Rogue River.
Students investigated the effect native plants have on water quality
and habitat restoration in a storm water ditch. Through persuasion
letters and short presentations to local governments and other
classrooms, students persuaded others to help restore habitat and
their watershed by planting native plants.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students experienced identifying a problem in their community and
were empowered to solve it.
Partners: Peace Lutheran Church, Designs by Nature, Sparta Village Water Dept
Project Description: This year's project added to the restoration of the banks of Nash
Creek. The goal of the project was to plant native plants to protect
the banks from erosion, improve water quality, provide habitat, and
educate the community on the beauty and functionality of native
plants. Community groups partnered with our classes to prepare the
banks, clear the site, plant native wildflowers, grasses, trees, and
shrubs, and maintain them. The area is located between Sparta Library
and a village park, connected by pedestrian bridge. Sixth and seventh
grade students performed water quality monitoring. A high school
biology class put native plant identification on the village website.
During Town and Country Days, 2017, students had a booth explaining
the project.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Prior to this project, the Sparta community was largely
uninformed about Nash Creek and its role in the local watershed. Now,
students proudly tour the project with their families. Every single
child or teen has tiptoed around seedlings while they fish or explore.
Community members approach teachers and ask where they can get native
plants for themselves. This year the bank restoration extended off
school property. Vandalism and trash have dropped off significantly
since the planting project began in 2008.
Partners: Sparta Rotary, Sparta Boy Scouts, Sparta Girl Scouts, Kent
Conservation District, Summit Tree Service, Afton Excavating, Sparta
Village DPW, Mike Bruggink (landscape architect), Trout Unlimited,
Designs by Nature, Rogers Hardware, Various community members
Teachers: 3
Students: 420
Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality
Project Description: Students and teachers continued the Nash Creek Streambank
Restoration Project with Phase 2 by planting more native plants on the
banks of Nash Creek on both sides of the pedestrian bridge. (This site
was cleared for planting during Phase 1.) Phase 2 happened on October
7, 14, and 21, when third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders planted an
additional 2,000 plants to solve the problem of stormwater runoff
entering Nash Creek. Students also designed a sign in partnership with
Trout Unlimited to inform the community about roots of native plants,
information about some species planted, and donors who are made the
project possible. The sign was placed near the bridge.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students used scientific facts and processes to solve problems.
They become personally connected to and responsible for Nash Creek,
which flows in the middle of their community. They are able to explain
how native plants restore their watershed.
Partners: Trout Unlimited, Sparta Education Foundation, Designs by Nature
Teachers: 4
Students: 525
Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality
Project Description: Third through fifth-grade students learned about an invasive
species, reed canary grass, which was planted as a substitute for hay
by settlers, and its negative effect on our watershed, specifically at
Nash Creek. An herbicide was sprayed professionally to eradicate reed
canary grass, and students replaced it with native plants. Afterwards,
students had a classroom lesson demonstrating how native plants absorb
pollution from stormwater and layers of sand clean the groundwater,
and native plants. Sixth-grade students researched and designed
bioswales located in the parking lot attached to Nash Creek to capture
stormwater from non-point source pollution, as a real-world
application in their own community of Sparta. Students pulled and
removed another invasive species, garlic mustard, which was growing
farther north on the same bank of Nash Creek. Then they spread an
organic material of leaves, twigs, and branches to keep native plant
roots moist and enrich the soil in that area.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students now feel empowered to protect the watershed in which
they and other plant and animal species live. They feel attached to a
place of nature in their own community at a location they can easily
access. Students are now able to observe stormwater and where it
flows. They can identify invasive reed canary grass and garlic mustard
as hazards to the environment. Students can explain to others how they
increased habitat and clean water with beautiful native plants, as an
example for them to do the same.
Project Description: During September’s monthly Flex Friday Science activities,
students explored adaptations between native wildflowers and bumble
bees in the wildflower garden at Appleview. In March, 5th graders
collaborated and developed a plan showing which wildflowers to plant
and where to plant them along a bank of Nash Creek in Balyeat Field.
Students included a variety of plants that would flower in the spring,
summer, and fall and thrive in dry, moist, and wet areas on the bank.
On May 10, 5th graders pulled garlic mustard and planted shrubs. On
May 24, 4th graders planted wildflower seedlings. On June 1, 3rd
graders planted in a shaded area on the north end of the bank, which
is cared for by Sparta Township. On June 6, students volunteered to
plant seedlings after school (usually 15-20 students participate). On
July 2, the Green Team, Trout Unlimited, completed planting on the
steepest parts of the bank.
In a surprise turn of events, Sparta Village was chosen by ReLeaf
Michigan, a non-profit tree organization, to plant 40 trees in Rogers
Park and Balyeat Field through which Nash Creek flows! Most will be
native trees that can tolerate suburban areas, are important to
pollinators, and improve the watershed. School and community
volunteers planted them on June 8.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students know bees are being threatened. They have the power and
ability to improve habitat for bees. Students experience and
internalize that it could not be done without human intervention.
Students will witness plants maturing and bees and butterflies
pollinating them for many years. They will observe other native
species increasing in and out of the creek. Students feel connected to
Nash Creek and village parks and voluntarily take care of them.
Partners: Sparta Education Foundation, Sparta Township, ReLeaf Michigan,
Sparta Village, Sparta Rotary
We are creating nature trails out of 2 ½ acres of a semi-woodland
property which was dominated with invasive shrubs and plants. The
school owns this property, which is bordered by Appleview Elementary
and the Middle School. They are also within walking distance to
Ridgeview Elementary and the High School. Students and community
members have removed most of the invasive Japanese honeysuckle,
bartlett pears, garlic mustard, floribunda rose, and spotted
knapweed. Third - 5th graders are creating signs which will be placed
at native trees and shrubs to educate Sparta students and community.
Signs identify the species (4th grade standards); tell how it provides
a service for the ecosystem and identify relationship between the
plant and insects (3rd grade); identify invasive species and human
effect on the environment (5th grade).
In September 2020, 32 large trees and 120 small bushes and trees were
planted. The nature trails have a variety of habitats: rows of red
pine planted in 1960, a north wooded, moist clay wooded area, a south
wooded sandy area, and two small prairies. Sparta Hunting and Fishing
Club has cut and delivered logs for a wooded classroom seating area
and local farmers donated rocks for a seating area on a prairie. SHFC
woodworkers built benches and trail signs. By the end of May, 2021,
twenty more large trees, 5 flats of wildflowers, and 60 shrubs will be
planted. Depending on grant funding, ten more large trees, 120 shrubs
and more wildflowers will be planted in September, 2021
Partners:
Sparta Education Foundation, Michigan Department of Natural
Resources, DTE Energy, Lower Grand River Organization of Watersheds,
Sparta Department of Public Works, Sparta Hunting and Fishing Club,
Sparta Community Foundation, National Park Foundation, Kingsbury
Farms, Kent County Conservation District, Ace Hardware
Teachers: 16 total classes (six 3rd-grade; five
4th grade; five 5th grade classes)
Students: 400
Funder: Baldwin Foundation, Wege
Foundation, Sparta Education Foundation, Michigan Department of
Natural Resources, DTE Energy, Lower Grand River Organization of
Watersheds, Sparta Community Foundation, National Park Foundation
We are creating nature trails out of 2 ½ acres of a semi-woodland
property which was dominated with invasive shrubs and plants. The
school owns this property, which is bordered by Appleview Elementary
and the Middle School. They are also within walking distance to
Ridgeview Elementary and the High School. Students and community
members have removed most of the invasive Japanese honeysuckle,
bartlett pears, garlic mustard, floribunda rose, and spotted
knapweed. Third - 5th graders are creating signs which will be placed
at native trees and shrubs to educate Sparta students and community.
Signs identify the species (4th grade standards); tell how it provides
a service for the ecosystem and identify relationship between the
plant and insects (3rd grade); identify invasive species and human
effect on the environment (5th grade).
In September 2020, 32 large trees and 120 small bushes and trees
were planted.
The nature trails have a variety of habitats: rows of red pine
planted in 1960, a north wooded, moist clay wooded area, a south
wooded sandy area, and two small prairies.
Sparta Hunting and Fishing Club has cut and delivered logs for a
wooded classroom seating area and local farmers donated rocks for a
seating area on a prairie. SHFC woodworkers built benches and trail signs.
By the end of May, 2021, twenty more large trees, 5 flats of
wildflowers, and 60 shrubs will be planted. Depending on grant
funding, ten more large trees, 120 shrubs and more wildflowers will be
planted in September, 2021
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship:
Respect and not damage plants, insects, small animals and their homes
in a natural setting.
Tell others about invasive species and choosing native species of plants.
Become a model for youth and adults as a steward of the environment,
school, and community
Choose to go outside, rather than stay inside.
Partners:
Sparta Education Foundation, Michigan Department of Natural
Resources, DTE Energy, Sparta Department of Public Words, Sparta
Hunting and Fishing Club, Sparta Community Foundation, Kingsbury
Farms, Kent County Conservation District, Ace Hardware
Teachers:
Sue Blackall, Environmental & Outdoor Educator, K-12
