Check out our trail building progress! We would like to thank you Mr. and Mrs. Timmer for helping us dig and get our trail started. Also, Mrs. Sturm has been with us quite a few Fridays helping brainstorm and write grants to local businesses to help us build our trail and outdoor classroom.
This Friday we had some special guests from the Zeeland West High School Wetland class. A few students and Mrs. Soucome stopped by to help us and brainstorm about what we have here at Quincy and how we could make our Q.W.P. a reality.
Our Quincy Wetland Project Wristbands are here!
Our Quincy Wetland Project wristbands are here and will be for sale during recess at school. Students are also welcome to bring a few home with them to sell for those interested in helping.
I have always wanted to do something with Quincy's wetland ponds. I
read a book this summer called "Place Based Education" which was about
getting kids involved in real world projects that directly improve their
local community. I thought our school was the perfect place to start.
With help from our Service Learning Coordinator, and many others we
have a pretty cool project planned this year. Our quick plan is as
follows:
1. This fall dig and put down stone for a short wetland
walk trail. The kids call it Q.N.I.T. which is short for Quincy Nature
Interpretive Trail. (They have fallen in love with the name so I'm
doubtful that I can convince them to call it something else. ;-)
2. Over the winter we are planning to design the
information signs along the trail, incorporating ecosystems, wetlands,
and various other applicable information from our fifth grade
curriculum. We would like to have some prototype ideas to get quotes
from local printing companies and have them printed and installed in the
spring.
3. (Big Dream) The building trades students at the
high school would like to help us build a small outdoor classroom with a
water testing deck. This is a big wish at this point, but I am
hopeful. They will build it in May, and it would complete the project
for this year. I would like to have a ribbon cutting ceremony on the
last week of school and have the kids officially hand the outdoor
classroom and trail over to the Quincy Community.
IF ANYONE CAN LOAN US YOUR WHEEL BARREL, A SHOVEL, AND STONE
RAKE, PLEASE BRING IT TO SCHOOL. WE WOULD LIKE TO SPREAD SOME STONE
THIS FRIDAY NEAR THE END OF THE DAY.
