EARTH STEWARDS

Applicant:Binet Payne and Louann Talbert

Student Group/Teachers/Community Members/Partnerships Involved:K-8 students and teachers, parent/community volunteers, Business partners - Weathertop Nursery, Freshwater Farms Nursery

Brief Description of Project:We want to continue to develop learning landscapes and garden projects at LES/LMS. We also want to provide some inspiring networking opportunities for students and staff. Finally we want to begin a literature library focusing on nature studies.

Connections

How does the project connect with our theme of people, history, and place? This project will develop a sense of interdependence in nature and our community. Students are studying and mapping Long Valley, looking at the geographical location and natural and human history. Community members will come in to speak.

How does the project interact with the community?This will take place through speakers and people coming in to help in the gardens and with landscaping. We hope students will learn landscaping skills that can be used in the community on local beautification projects.

How does the project connect with other NCRCN members/ sites?
This project will connect with other NCRCN members and sites through networking opportunities of students visiting each others' schools and gardens. We plan to share information about local wildlife habitats, specifically salmon, natural resource issues and where we are going as a greater community. Some students will be participating in collecting precipitation data to share with the other members.

Student Learning:

How will the project improve student learning in relation to Holistic Learner Outcomes?:

  • Self Directed Learner: Student groups working together to design landscape projects and implement.

  • Community Contributor: Caring for school grounds and using skills in
    community beautification projects.

  • Constructive Thinker: Designing landscapes.

  • Quality Producer: Creating a beautiful school grounds and helping with
    beautification projects in town that will last.

  • Effective Communicator: Learning to share what they have done with others in their class, community and other NCRCN sites.

Support:


What kind of support would you like from the coordinator?
Helping to arrange for community members to visit the school to speak.
Coordinating with other NCRCN schools.

If you are applying for funds, what will you use the money for? (see budget)

What other sources might provide additional funding for your project? Center for Ecoliteracy.