STUDENT DRIVEN BMP'S
* Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention * Solid Waste Reduction * Habitat Restoration * Structures for Environmental Learning
Water Conservation/Pollution Prevention
Erosion Control - Students are always looking for ways to improve our courtyard space. One of the identified problems in our courtyard was an area where water drains off the roof and a concrete slab, quickly eroding two of our garden beds. Students decided to build raised beds in attempts to increase usable garden space as well as prohibit the soil from running towards the storm drain. On November 17, 2017, about 20 student volunteers showed up on a day off for students to build the raised beds. They also placed student painted pavers around the beds to make them accessible to all students.
Trash Pickups - Epik Kids in Action, an after school club of 110 students, grade 2-5, regularly schedules trash pick-ups along the Historic Trolley Trail that runs alongside the school campus. This pedestrian and bike trail receives a high volume of community traffic and connects several neighborhoods to the school, local shops, restaurants and mass transit routes.
Tree Plantings - In both the Spring of 2014 and 2015, students and their parents gathered on a weekend and weekday evening to plant trees on the school campus as part of "Turn off your electronics/Turn on Nature Day". About 20 students, grade K-5, and their parents, attended each event, planting trees and mulching high erosion areas around the campus.
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Solid Waste Reduction
Textile Recycling/Re-purposing - In February of 2016, Hillcrest students collected used jeans and denim products, that otherwise would have been discarded, for the purpose of making shoes for the Sole Hope program (see link below). The EPIK Kids in Action Club used templates provided by Sole Hope to cut the fabric into the pieces that would then be used to manufacture the shoes. We matched up all the parts and sent them to the organization where the shoes were constructed in the African nations that are supported by Sole Hope. We ended up making the patterns for about 75 shoes and worked with the Student Sharing group at CHS to make another 25.
http://solehope.org/
Wasteless Wednesdays - For years Hillcrest students have looked for ways to reduce food and packaging waste. These efforts began when a compost bin was placed in our the garden and students were encouraged to collect appropriate food waste for composting. This idea led students to look for additional methods to cut down on cafeteria related waste. In Spring of 2016, the after school Environmental Club decided to initiate "Waste-less Wednesdays" for both students and teachers. Morning announcements were used to educate the students and initiate the concept. To build incentives, competitions were initiated between the grade levels.
EPIK Kids in Action Club's Recycle Donation Drive for Animal Rescues- this after-school club is geared to getting students to identify needs in the community and taking action; it also conducts seasonal collections of various items for charities. Since 2012, they annually collect for a local animal rescue center. After creating collection bins, signs and fliers to advertise the campaign, students collected used blankets and toys to be donated to a local shelter. Students re-purposed fabric remnants left over from other charitable projects to make dog chew toys. In 2017, they added cardboard box lids to the collection list and collected over 100 boxes to donate.
They also collected gently used baby dolls to donate to a neighborhood Nursing Home that Hillcrest students often visit or deliver gifts too.
They also collected gently used baby dolls to donate to a neighborhood Nursing Home that Hillcrest students often visit or deliver gifts too.
Hillcrest's Maker Lab Up-cycling - In August of 2015, Hillcrest opened its Maker Lab. This learning center is dependant on recyclable and up-cycled materials collected and donated by Hillcrest Students. Collection is year round and all classes participate. Students then use these materials for their innovated creations. Click the button below to learn more.
Habitat Restoration
Native Perennial Garden: Year round, including over the summer, students participate in maintaining our native perrenial garden in our 7,000 sq ft courtyard. When the weather allows and students need a break, teachers can check the "to do" list and find small tasks that the students can do to help tend the garden. Whether its watering, weeding or trimming our students take great pride in their effort to help maintain this beautiful outdoor classroom. Students also sign up for summer maintenance or scheduled "work parties" that require students to help maintain the garden outside of school hours. The area now attracts a large number of birds (there are 2 bird boxes installed and 2 sets of bird feeders which children fill) which can be watched from the 5th grade science lab where there are binoculars and bird guides available. In addition to birds, the garden also attracts a large number of insects especially pollinators that teachers often incorporate into lessons.
Fish Raising in the Classroom: Each Fall, Hillcrest receives juvenile Bluegill from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources to raise in the classroom and be released in the Spring. In Fall 2017, 20 classrooms, representing each grade, (with an average of 25 students) participated, each receiving a fish tank with approximately 30-40 bluegill fish. Teachers receive instruction on how to teach their students to take care of the fish in their tanks. Students are involved in setting up each tank, feeding the fish and locating/removing dead fish. Kindergarten and First grade teachers have a lesson plan that describes the role of fish in the ecosystem. Teachers are encouraged to relate fish raising to science and math concepts. In October of 2016, we started our 5th Grade Fish Monitor program with 8 students. The program grew to 21 students participating in 2017. While teachers work with their students for meeting daily needs, 5th grade student volunteers conduct bi-weekly check-ins to access the overall health of each tank. They conduct water quality tests and identify when there is a need for further tank maintenance. Student s work with parent volunteers regularly to clean filters, add water and clean the tanks. In the Spring, both the 1st grade and 3rd grade participate in the release of the fish. The release days involve a full day of hands-on environmental education and exploration with grade-appropriate activities.
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Bird Houses - After accessing the needs of the school yard and community, the Environmental Club chose to build bird feeders in Feb. of 2017 and bird houses on October 10, 2017.
Community Native Woodland Project - In 2017, our neighboring, Catonsville Presbyterian Church, began a greening project, involving a portion of their property that is used for an outdoor preschool. Many of our students have attended this preschool, are members of the church, and/or play in this space regularly on their own time. The church set out to plant native perennials,shrubs and trees, remove invasives, and tidy up the outdoor classroom structures. Our Environmental Club students participated by collecting seeds and dividing many of our large perennials to contribute to their project. On October 24th 2017, 23 students delivered the seeds and worked alongside church members in the planting phase of the project. Our students will continue to provide seeds and divided plants throughout the year to help the church complete their project.
Structures for Environmental Learning
Organic Vegetable Gardening - Since the creation of the raised beds in Fall 2010, students have regularly participated in their planting, maintaining, and harvesting. Throughout the Fall and Spring of each year, each grade level plants and maintains a specific raised bed in the organic garden. Our harvests have included radishes, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, kale, onions, herbs and so much more! Each grade level has been able to incorporate their activities in the garden into their classroom instruction. The gardens are proving to engage students in healthy eating.
Outdoor Classroom - Our courtyard, which includes the raised beds, native perennial garden, tables and additional seating provides the perfect outdoor learning space for our students. Each grade uses the outdoor space throughout the year, whether its to conduct a scientific study, find inspiration, or relocating classroom activities to enjoy some much needed time outdoors.
2nd grade students were tasked with using the Makers Lab to use upcycle collected materials, that otherwise would have been thrown out to create decorations and functional pieces for the courtyard. Students chose to decorate a utility area that they deemed as an eyesore with large flowers they made from old garden hoses and other materials and banners made from fabric scraps. They also decided to make decorative bird deterrents from Compact Discs to keep birds from flying into the ventilation system and squirrel proof bird feeders. Their creations were showcased at Hillcrest's 1st Annual Makers Fair on June 1, 2016.