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grolfe
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Posted: Fri Jun 5th, 2009 04:18 pm |
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By Glenn Rolfe
Sussex Post
GEORGETOWN – Can you dig it?
Sussex Central High School students did.
Friday, May 29 was planting day at Sussex Central High for a project that offers both environmental and educational benefits.
More than 1,000 plants now occupy a storm-water retention pond on school grounds – .a schoolyard habitat project supported by a grant from the DE Center for Inlands Bays in collaboration with Environmental Concern (wetlands.org), said Lorraine Caputo, AP science teacher at Sussex Central High School.
“The beauty of planting a wetland is that is it is all natural. Nature takes over now. These plants will naturally grow and multiply on their own and a few years down road we’ll have a thriving wetland,” said Ms. Caputo, a wetland project coordinator.
Representatives from the wetlands.org foundation based in St. Michael’s, Md., provided planting material and guidance in the massive undertaking.
“They were wonderful,” she said.
A committee of SCHS teachers was also involved and a dozen student leaders selected from grades 9-12 organized other interested SCHS students as part of the planting brigade.
“It is something that is dynamic, and it is growing. You wouldn’t believe how excited the kids were out there working in the environment,” Ms. Caputo said.
In addition, SCHS sophomore Matt Skidmore, a scout, plans to build a pier and an outdoor class pavilion in pursuit of his Eagle badge, Ms. Caputo said.
Not only are wetlands are a valuable resource that reduce flooding and improve water quality by removing wastes and nutrients, they also serve as a living classroom for hands-on learning with direct interaction with students.
Ms. Caputo said other retention ponds on the SCHS campus may be considered for future wetland expansion.
“Right now, we’re just going to utilize this as a tool for teaching, learning and understanding how this is a big part of the outside community, too,” Ms. Caputo said.
News Editor Glenn Rolfe can be reached at 629-5505 or grolfe@newszap.com.
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