This "LAND" environmental category, linked with all of the other categories helps sustain our environment. Students are encouraged to investigate conservation, parks, farming, gardens, endangered areas and species, development, and other land issues by incorporating classroom subjects, content standards, real world information, and youth group badge or patch requirements. The integrated projects, partnership collaborations and community service help improve the community and world!

2009 ENVIRONMENT FAIR WINNERS

CEDAR GLADE PROJECT - Homer Pittard Campus School

Middle Tennessee State University - Murfreesboro, Tennessee

The cedar glades are natural areas found in the central basin of middle Tennessee. The class project has been centered on the Flat Rock State Natural Area. They visited this glade several times to identify endemic and common plant species. Some of these are found ONLY in Rutherford County. Each child chose one plant. They became experts on these plants and the zones of the glade.The students also continued to maintain the "Rescue Glade" on the Campus School Nature Trail, established by previous classes. These plants were rescued from glades in construction areas. The class interviewed Milo Pyne who discovered Pynes Ground Plum, a plant endemic only to Rutherford county. He went with the class to Flat Rock Cedar Glades. They met with Bertha "grandmother of the glades", who presented a slide show and taught the students about the importance of protecting the glades. They also met with Kim Sadler from the Biology Department at MTSU to hear her knowledge about the glades. Students created a Cedar Glade informational booklet as well as their web page.

OUTSTANDING “GARDEN” PROJECT

LEARNING THROUGH NATURE AT CONCORDIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Capistrano Unified School District - San Clemente, California

In November 2008, the San Clemente Garden Club partnered with Concordia Elementary School PTA, teachers and staff to establish Learning Through Nature: A Butterfly Habitat School Garden. The hands-on Junior Gardener program was designed to tie directly into the science curriculum for each grade (K-5). In addition to a primary focus on 2nd grade curriculum on life cycles, the program involves other grades in garden based science projects including: Rainwater Harvesting through recycled rain barrels (5th); Worm Bin Composting -Vermiculture (4th); CA Friendly & Native Plant Butterfly Habitats - drought tolerant (3rd); Native American/Butterfly Habitat Garden (3rd); in-class butterfly habitats (K-2nd); and Butterfly Habitat Garden/Vegetable Seed Garden (K). The focus on habitat and water wise gardening has spread school wide. In addition to Concordia parents, PTA, and Garden Club, class-based science projects have also drawn volunteer support from the San Clemente Art Association and a local retired teacher with a specialty in Vermiculture. The garden is an important extension of Concordia’s new Paleontology Park and Science Discovery Center, centered on Project Splash, a 4-9 million year old fossilized whale bone. The park is expected to draw visitors from other schools, creating endless learning opportunities.

LAND

Possible student investigations

1 Land Development

2 Parks / Preserves

3 Land Around the World

4 Farms and Ranches

5 School / Community Gardens