West Middle School has continued to restore habitat at our school and in the surrounding community during the four years since our initial certification as a Maryland Green School. We completed installation of a 500 square foot rain garden in 2008, then added another 200 square feet to it during the 2009-2010 school year. Unfortunately, a severe snowstorm in 2010 (and the snowplowing that resulted) destroyed our garden. However, we have written a grant and plan on replanting the garden during the spring of 2012!
We are constantly finding space on our school grounds to plant natives including a front garden, side garden, courtyard habitat, bluebird trail, hillside reforestation area, and our chestnut orchard. Recently, we removed non-natives from around our school sign and planted native red twig dogwoods in their place. One of the few remaining non-natives on our property is a large holly bush in our courtyard which is being removed and replaced with a teaching deck by an Alumnus as part of his eagle scout project.
In addition to having man-made habitats (bluebird boxes), our choice of native plants provides for the basic survival needs (food, shelter, space, and water) of many native animals of Maryland. Our courtyard project has removed about 2000 square feet of sod and replaced it with native trees, shrubs, and plants.
For the past three years, we have held an "Environmental Action Challenge" to encourage students to complete follow-up environmental projects after their visit to Carroll County Outdoor School. As a result, more than 200 projects have been completed in and around our school-community by students. Projects include bird/bat/owl boxes, native gardens, tree/shrub plantings, brush pile construction, no mow zones, and much more!
Habitat Restoration
West Middle School has continued to restore habitat at our school and in the surrounding community during the four years since our initial certification as a Maryland Green School. We completed installation of a 500 square foot rain garden in 2008, then added another 200 square feet to it during the 2009-2010 school year. Unfortunately, a severe snowstorm in 2010 (and the snowplowing that resulted) destroyed our garden. However, we have written a grant and plan on replanting the garden during the spring of 2012!
We are constantly finding space on our school grounds to plant natives including a front garden, side garden, courtyard habitat, bluebird trail, hillside reforestation area, and our chestnut orchard. Recently, we removed non-natives from around our school sign and planted native red twig dogwoods in their place. One of the few remaining non-natives on our property is a large holly bush in our courtyard which is being removed and replaced with a teaching deck by an Alumnus as part of his eagle scout project.
In addition to having man-made habitats (bluebird boxes), our choice of native plants provides for the basic survival needs (food, shelter, space, and water) of many native animals of Maryland. Our courtyard project has removed about 2000 square feet of sod and replaced it with native trees, shrubs, and plants.
For the past three years, we have held an "Environmental Action Challenge" to encourage students to complete follow-up environmental projects after their visit to Carroll County Outdoor School. As a result, more than 200 projects have been completed in and around our school-community by students. Projects include bird/bat/owl boxes, native gardens, tree/shrub plantings, brush pile construction, no mow zones, and much more!