Minneapolis Dowling Urban Environmental School: A Collaborative - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Minneapolis Dowling Urban Environmental School: A Collaborative Effort!

The Dowling Campus is 22 Acres • Dowling Victory Gardens • Main Entrance Landscaping • Pollinator Garden, Rain Garden and Raised beds • Greenhouse • Orchard • Nature Acre • Old Tree Nursery • Mississippi River Gorge

Genesis of the Parent Green Team  School wide survey revealed desire to renew environmental focus in 2006  An interested group of parents formed a group and proposed to function as a sub committee of the PTO in 2007  Minneapolis Goes Green  District support for Green Initiatives.  Organics Recycling in the lunchroom

Mission The mission of the Dowling Green Team is to support Dowling ’ s urban environmental commitment.

MPLS Goes Green! Organics Recycling

2007 Raised Bed Gardens Funding Source: www.monarchlab.org Schoolyard Garden Grants

Building the raised bed gardens in the classroom

Parents help on planting day and harvest day.

You don’t need a ‘bumper crop’ to have a feast!

Yum!

Recent Garden Projects • 2011- East (front) Entrance native landscaping project completed in partnership with MN Landscape Arboretum. • 2011- Butterfly garden planted on the west end of the campus. Funding from the US Forest Service division of International Programs and Monarchs in the Classroom

Rain Garden and Raised Bed Gardens • 2012- raised beds and a rain garden are added to west side butterfly garden area. Metro Blooms provided funding and labor for this project.

The Green Team has supported and advanced environmental education at Dowling.

Green Team Accomplishments  Organics Recycling in the lunchroom  Garden grant writing  Garden installation and maintenance  Family ‘Get Outdoors’ events in winter and spring  Fall Environmental Fair and walk/run/roll-a-thon  Winter skiing, medallion hunt, EE education  Spring Earth Day picnic and tree planting  Bike and Walk to school events in fall and spring  Purchased equipment to get student outdoors  Outdoor seating  Cross-country ski equipment  Field equipment  MN DNR School Forest Designation in 2012

Monarchs in the Classroom Schoolyard Garden Grant Program http://www.monarchlab.org/see/gardengrants/Default.aspx