Several 6th graders from Wilson Elementary School assisted in the preperation of the butterfly garden by spreading topsoil evenly around the garden. 30 yards of topsoil took all morning and 9 workers (2 Service Biologists) to complete the preperation. Photo Credit: Heather Rawlings, USFWS 10/10/2008

Wilson Elementary School 2nd graders learn how to plant wildflowers! They had a fantastic time, and spent all afternoon (over 3 hours) to plant and mulch the garden. Photo credit: Heather Rawlings, USFWS 10/10/2008

These two second graders were very intent on getting their flowers planted properly. Photo credit: Heather Rawlings, USFWS 10/10/2008

The 2nd graders use small buckets to scoop up mulch, transport it to the garden, and carefully spread the mulch so they don't cover up any plants (this required heavy adult supervision). Heather Rawlings, USFWS, 10/10/2008

Finally finished! A group photo taken in front of the completed butterfly garden of the 2nd grade class at Wilson Elementary School. Heather Rawlings, USFWS, 10/10/2008

The Alpena National Fish and Wildlife Consevation Office (NFWCO) partnered with Wilson Elementary School second and sixth graders on October 10, 2008 to plant a 20 x 40 ft. butterfly garden on their playground.  This was the first of what we hope are many projects with this school to encourage unstructured play of the elementary school students.  This opportunity allowed children to take ownership of the project, to get dirty, and to teach the second grade how to properly plant native plants.  Fourteen different types of wildflowers and grasses were purchased from Wildtype Nurseries in Mason, Mich., and all plants were Michigan genotype.  Plants were chosen for their hardiness in a sunny environment, height, color, and attractiveness to insects and birds.  Biologists Andrea Ania and Heather Rawlings chose the plants and organized the project.  The Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program purchased the plants, topsoil, mulch, and some hand tools required to complete the project.

Plastic structures called “fun timbers” were placed and staked-in delineating the location of the garden earlier in the week by the sixth grade and Service biologists Adam Kowalski and Heather Rawlings.  One of the Wilson Elementary School parents used their tractor with a small backhoe to remove the sod from the garden area, and the kids finished the sod removal manually with shovels.   Service employees Andrea Ania and Heather Rawlings were on-site the morning of Friday, Oct. 10, with several strong sixth graders to direct the delivery of topsoil and mulch from contractor Sharboneau and Sons.  The trucks were able to back right up to the garden to dump the soil, but 30 yards of soil had to be manually spread throughout the garden.  The second grade class with teacher Mrs. Lisa Syma planted the garden in the afternoon.  Once the plants were in the ground, mulch was carefully spread throughout the garden to cut down on weeds and to retain more water for the plants during precipitation events. 

The butterfly garden was planted adjacent to the playground, so the entire school can play in it, watch it grow, and observe fauna that come to use the garden.  The tallest plants and grasses were planted in the back (big bluestem, switchgrass, and giant sunflower) and can reach 6-7 ft. tall.  All of the classes (kindergarten through sixth) will use this site as a part of their school curriculum, but the second grade will have specific assignments involving the garden and will maintain it.  Each year the Alpena NFWCO would like to add another component to this playground to eventually create a natural area on Wilson School’s property to allow nature to be more tangible to the kids, and to encourage imagination, unstructured play, and a relationship with nature that the children may not be receiving at home.  The Alpena NFWCO has “adopted” this second grade class and is making an effort to be in the classroom once a month to assist the teacher by incorporating more experiences in nature with the children while emphasizing the current State of Michigan mandated school curriculum.