Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/10
Outputs
1. We applied for and received a USDA grant to beautify the front of our High School building. Our major goal was to get our Agriculture Science student's out of the classroom and working on a horticulture/landscaping project. The results of this student involvement was hands on landscape and horticulture education and instilling a sense of community pride and ownership in their public school. Many positive comments and actions have already been received and observed. 2. We want the project to have a positive effect on all who enter our building. Student's, staff, community member's and visitor's will gain an appreciation for our natural world (with the prairie plants, trees and shrubs and all the life they attract). The public will also be educated (with our educational displays) while enjoying the natural area. PRODUCTS: We now have in the front of our school building a flagstone patio picnic area, a prairie plant butterfly garden, learning center with plants scientifically identified, sitting stones, decorative split rail fence, granite paths, landscaped outdoor classroom, and landscaping and benches around our middle school sign. The materials used in the products of the project include plant signs, flagstone, sitting stones, prairie plants, trees, shrubs, benches, a picnic table and split rail fence. OUTCOMES: We now have the entire North Exposure of our high school building landscaped with our prairie hillside, prairie plant educational area, and a bark mulched front with trees, shrubs and perennial plants. The effects on our student's has been very positive. They have taken pride and ownership in our school to a new level. The area is looked after by all student's, even students that did not work on the project have taken good care of our new natural learning area. We have also helped with drainage, which has been an issue in front of our school building. The custodian's have also noticed that the floors have been cleaner in the school building, because people entering the school are not tracking in mud, debris, dirt. Also, with just a couple of years of plant growth, we have noticed a lot of bird and butterfly activity throughout the growing season. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: We now have contacts and new resources with the local garden club, master gardners, local post-secondary institutions, local landscape contractors and local greenhouses. They are all familiar and were very supportive and helpful with our project. FUTURE INITIATIVES: The project will require ongoing maintenance in the spring, summer, and fall, which will be completed by student's and volunteer's.
Impacts
The positive impacts of the project include: 1. A feeling of student pride and ownership in their school; 2. A feeling of community pride in their school; 3. A natural learning center right outside school for years to come; 4. Significant hands-on student learning; and 5. Many local connections have been developed with the garden club, master gardners, businesses, and post-secondary institutions.
Publications
- Complete Guide to Landscaping Ortho Books - 2005 Meredith Corporation
|
Progress 09/01/08 to 08/31/09
Outputs
We applied for and received a USDA grant to beautify the front of our High School building. Our major goal was to get our Agriculture Science student's out of the classroom and working on a horticultural landscaping project. The results of this student involvement were hands on landscape and horticulture education and instilling a sense of community pride and ownership in their public school. Many positive comments and actions have already been received and observed. PRODUCTS: Plant signs, flagstone, sitting stones, prairie plants, trees, shrubs, benches, picnic tables, granite paths, and split rail fence. OUTCOMES: We now have in the front of our school building a flagstone patio picnic area, a prairie plant butterfly garden, learning center with plants scientifically identified, sitting stones, decorative split rail fence, granite paths, landscaped outdoor classroom and landscaping and benches around our middle school sign. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: We now have contacts and new resources with the local garden club, master gardeners, local post-secondary institutions, local landscape contractors and local greenhouses. FUTURE INITIATIVES: We will do ongoing maintenance in the spring, summer and fall. We will have a 2010 grand opening in the fall and a plant species identification learning center. This project has also prompted our administration to find money to complete landscaping the rest of the front of the high school building.
Impacts
The positive impacts of the project are: 1. A feeling of student pride and ownership in their school. 2. A feeling of community pride in their school. 3. A natural learning center right outside school for years to come. 4. Significant hands-on student learning. 5. Many local connections have been develooped with the garden club, master gardeners, businesses, and post-secondary institutions.
Publications
- Complete Guide to Landscaping, Ortho Books - 2005 Meredith Corporation.
|
Progress 09/01/07 to 08/31/08
Outputs
We applied for and received a USDA grant to beautify the front of our High School building. Our major goal was to get our Agriculture Science student's out of the classroom and working on a horticulture/landscaping project. The results of this student involvment are hands on landscape and horticulture education and instilling a sense of community pride and ownership in their public school. Many positive comments and actions have already been received and observed. PRODUCTS: The products of the project include trees, shrubs, prairie plants, flagstone, riverbed stone, sitting stones, split rail fence, educational signs, picnic table, and bark mulch. OUTCOMES: We will maintain the area with student help (cleaning, weeding, pruning, watering, posting signs, etc.). We willl provide elementary student and general public tours in conjunction with the Poynette Garden Club. Overall, we desire this project to be an educational, natural, comfortable and pride instilling experience to all who enter our building. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Educational tours to the elementary student's and the general public. Also, articles in the local newspaper. FUTURE INITIATIVES: At projects end our vision is to have an attractive, comfortable, natural area at the entrance of our school. It will also second as an outdoor learning center. Future project initiatives include preparation and installation of educational signs, guest speakers, field trips, and annual natural area maintenance.
Impacts
We want the project to have a positive effect on all who enter our building. Student's, staff, community member's and visitor's will gain an appreciation for our natural world (with the prairie plants, trees and shrubs and all life they attract). The public will also be educated (with our educational displays) while enjoying the natural area.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|