While some community members are beautifying the streets of Sweet Home the fourth grade students from Foster and the first and fourth grade students from Oak Heights are doing the same for their schools grounds.
To share ideas with area schools and participate in learning activities, students from Ms. Walling and Mrs. Spencer’s fourth grade classes were invited to attend the first annual 4-H Wildlife Stewards Member School Summit held at Inavale School south of Corvallis.
The Summit was the first ever of its kind in the world. It was set up to coincide with Earth Day, which falls every year in April. The main goal was to have fun and learn about wildlife habitats, weather in Oregon and what they can do to help protect and use their environment wisely. Schools from Linn and Benton counties displayed the projects they have been working on at their schools.
At Foster Ms. Walling’s class has made a nature trail through some trees and on a section of the school ground the students built raised beds and planted vegetables, trees, bushes and plants to attract butterflies. Mrs. Spencer’s fourth grade class and Mrs. Angulo’s first grade class started a Butterfly garden this year at Oak Heights. They painted butterflies and caterpillars on three cedar benches that will be placed in their garden.
Students from both schools planted a couple plants each in their new gardens. The schools have plans to add more each year. Their goal is to get every school in the Sweet Home school district involved with a project. A project doesn’t have to be big to make a difference. “Start out small, add a little each year and it will grow over time,” they were told.
A special thank you to the parents who volunteered their time and donated materials to make our gardens what they are.
At the Summit there were many activities for the students do. One of the activities enjoyed by most was the OSU Bug Zoo where they were able to hold creatures such as giant hissing cockroaches, bearded lizards, snakes, African centipedes and many others “things” that the chaperones, for some reason, decided not to touch.
For observing insects, students made “bug suckers”. By using a small jar and putting two straws into it they will be able to suck bugs into the jar. Don’t worry one straw has a screen on it so you don’t suck the bug into your mouth. They also enjoyed making a working river and watching what happens to it when heavy rains and flooding occur. (Remember, watch where you build those houses!)
At lunchtime students listened to George Taylor, state climatologist, talk about how air pollution is getting better, how we have more and larger trees than we did many years ago and how the salmon population in Oregon is on the rise.
Both schools left with prizes donated by some venders, such as hoses, rakes, bird feeders and more. These were given to them to help with their school gardens and thank them for a job well done.
The day ended with Foster receiving a large outdoor sign stating that they are a Certified 4-H Wildlife Stewards School. To earn this award you have to meet a certain criteria. Foster is the first school to receive this award in Linn county. The Foster fourth graders plan to dedicate it to the school at the next awards assembly. Foster was also asked to send their project display to the County Fair so all can see it.
A special thank you to Inavale School and its Stewards for a wonderful job of hosting the event this year. The event is to be held at a different Stewards School each year. If you would like to donate materials for raised bed, plants, soil, mulch or other garden item you can contact Ms. Walling at Foster and Mrs. Spencer or Mrs. Angulo at Oak Heights.