Greening Goddard High School A long term project to ensure - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Greening Goddard High School A long term project to ensure environmentally literate high school graduates

Greening our School History • 1997 to present---Recycling Project—ecology students collect paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans throughout district. Average 30 tons of paper, 1000 pounds of aluminum cans and over 60,000 plastic bottles. 1997 OWLS space established when GHS was being built • Includes drainage pond, ditch – 3.2 acres of land – 1.7 acres of water (~1.52 million gallons) – 2003 OWLS area certified 2009-2011 OWLS area renovated 2009 KS Environmental Educators of the Year Award • • 2010 Kansas Green School of the Year 2011 Winner of President’s Environmental Youth Award • • 2011 national winner of Project Earth.net earth day event

Recycling Project KS Waste Management Grant through KS Green Schools financed recycling bins and fishing line recycling bin

Ecology Class – board of regents science credit to graduate and attend college

GHS OWLS area Now: Then:

2008 KS Green Schools Grant • Pond aeration system to improve water quality

Advantages of Pond Aeration • Reduce the level of bacteria and algae • Diminish odor • Adds oxygen • Circulate water • Improves fish health • Reduces Threat of West Nile Virus • Eliminates the use of chemicals to accomplish same result

Advantages of Using Wind • Windmills do not require electricity to operate them • Windmills are extremely reliable and long lasting • Windmills are cost effective

Before- • eutropication

• Open sections of water in After-- both winter and summer for aquatic fowl use • Clear pond

Celebrate Earth Event • Ecology and Biology student’s ultimate semester project http://www.kmuw.org/index.php/news/god dard_high_school_celebrates_earth_day/ • Over 500 4 th -6 th graders attend annually

Denise & Marylee at Earth Partnership for Schools sponsored by Dyck Arboretum June 2009

Networking with local resources BSA Eagle Project – repair fencing

Networking with fellow teachers Art in the Prairie Project

Theater Dept – Earth Day Play

Networking with other organizations Libby Albers with The WATER Center Power Town & School Programs– Westar Energy Roots & Shoots – Sedgwick Co Zoo

Planting trees in OWLS

Establishing interpretive gardens

Building Leopold Benches

Installing purple martin houses

Aquatic Studies at the dock

Empowering Students

Annual Control Burn prep tall grass area

Planting Day for Interpretive Gardens

Two Years Later (and lots of weeding) …..our interpretive gardens flourish

Each Spring has new growth

Certifications… • KS OWLS • Monarch Butterfly Way Station • National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Habitat • NWF Eco School Silver award school

Funding Opportunities • Received the original OWLS grant 2001 from KS Wildlife and Parks • OWLS improvement grant in 2003 and area certified • KS Greens Schools grant 2008 to add windmill pond aeration system • 2009 – OWLS renovation grant from KS Wildlife and Parks, Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant and Credit Union of America’s TGIF grant

Kansas Green Schools Grants • Air Quality Grant – windmill pond aeration system--$4,500 • Waste Management Grant – recycle bins--$3,500

• OWLS (outdoor wildlife learning site) start up funds and renovation grants available • 2001—received initial grant $2,000 • 2003—received improvement grant $1,000 • 2009—received renovation grant $1,000

TGIF Grant • $500 TGIF grant from Credit Union of America to build more Leopold Benches • Any member of the credit union can apply

Lowe’s Toolbox for Education Grant Received $5,000 Additional materials for all projects: • Sand, cement • Native limestone boarder rock • Leopold bench hardware • Gardening tools • Interpretive signage • Floating dock system

Using the O.W.L.S. ...

Special Events at GHS OWLS • Celebrate Earth event each April past 3 years – facilitated by the GHS ecology and biology students – 500 4 th -6 th graders in the Goddard School District #265 • Earhart Environmental Magnet visits the site – Ecology students facilitate aquatic studies activities • Art in the Prairie Project dedication

No Child Left Inside

LINKS Earth Day on Public Radio • http://www.kmuw.org/index.php/news/goddard_high_sc hool_celebrates_earth_day/ Kansas Green Schools-GHS and EHS • http://www.kansasgreenschools.org/ • Monarch Watch http://monarchwatch.org/ Eco Schools http://www.nwf.org/Global- • Warming/School-Solutions/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx • OWLS http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Other- Services/Education/Outdoor-Wildlife-Learning- Sites/OWLS-Information • Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant http://www.toolboxforeducation.com/hta.html

LINKS: Earth Day on Public Radio http://www.kmuw.org/index.php/news/goddard_high_scho • ol_celebrates_earth_day/ Early pictures/species lists • http://www.ghsowls.netfirms.com/ Kansas Green Schools • http://www.kansasgreenschools.org/green-schools/ghs- roaring-recyclers • Monarch Watch http://monarchwatch.org/ • Eco Schools http://www.nwf.org/Global-Warming/School- Solutions/Eco-Schools-USA.aspx • OWLS http://www.kdwp.state.ks.us/news/Other- Services/Education/Outdoor-Wildlife-Learning- Sites/OWLS-Information