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Garden City Gets an Extreme Makeover
Garden City teacher (right) gives the students
close instruction on what to do next |
NRCS and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful recently teamed up to discover what 800
students, teachers, and volunteers from the Garden City Elementary School could
do with 50 shovels, 30 rakes, and 25 wheel barrows. With some help from district
conservationist Aaron Lauster, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, and
other donors, the school grounds on the west side of Indianapolis underwent a
fast makeover as students and teachers put in hundreds of plants for wildlife,
several theme gardens, bird houses, and a pond. They also improved a
wetland and removed invasive plants – all while having a great time. Lauster
developed the conservation plan for the school that included 2.5 acres of hardwood planting, 1.5
acres of upland wildlife habitat management, and creation of a 1.5 acre wetland
on site.
The older students took on the more difficult tasks and helped the younger ones
with their jobs. By noon, all the plants were in the ground and the neighborhood
fire department brought several loads of water to fill the pond. Students,
teachers, and volunteers worked together to carry the water to the new
plantings.
Most of the improvements to the school grounds will be used as an outdoor
classroom giving the students a number of micro-environments to observe and
study. According to Joni Lawler, Garden City physical education teacher,
“All of our students come from a low-income situation and most of them have
never planted anything. This has been a true learning experience for them.”
Your contact is Michael McGovern,
NRCS public affairs specialist, at 317-290-3200, ext. 324.
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