Through partnerships with U.S. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, Chippewa Nature Center, and Pheasants Forever, Valley Chargers are restoring habitat and reimagining outdoor learning environments.
VL teachers Miss Karla Stahlecker (Art) and Mr. Ben Cooper (Biology) are leading the initiative. Motivated by professional development with Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative and the Dow Sustainability Teacher Fellowship, a project to restore six acres of the former farm field to the east of the tree line to native meadow habitat was born.
A joint Schoolyard Habitat Restoration grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Chippewa Nature Center is making it a reality.
Students kicked off the project in September with an on-site field trip with Pheasants Forever-Saginaw and Midland Chapters. As part of the day Biology and Art students:
- planted native wildflowers and grasses
- completed an outdoor scavenger hunt
- and learned about the importance of pollinators and animal habitats.
“The exciting thing about this project is that it’s not just re-planting a field,” said Miss Stahlecker, “It’s about teaching kids that small changes have a beneficial impact on not just us, but on all the creations God made. And ultimately its about growing passion and excitement for caring for that creation!”
The process of establishing the meadow will take some time. In the meantime there are other project goals to work on including removing invasive shrubs in the tree line to promote a healthy understory ecosystem, and eventually establishing a woodland trail and outdoor classroom space.
“While this project clearly has many parts, an initial goal is to get students noticing and identifying the world around them, which we rarely take the time to do,” commented Mr. Cooper.
To that end, Biology and Art students have spent the beginning part of this school year exploring, researching, and investigating plants and animals that are native to Michigan.
They will be sharing what they have learned at an Art & Science Showcase on November 7 from 5 – 6:30 pm in the Fine Arts & Science hallways at Valley. All are invited to attend!
Purposes of Valley Woods & Meadow Project
- Be good stewards (caretakers) of the land and animals and model this for our students. Stewardship and mindful land management practice are critical to helping care for the natural world that God has provided for us. Restoration of this space to natural habitat will benefit wildlife, pollinators, and the land. Students, in turn, learn powerful practices that strengthen their connection to our community.
- Provide hands-on, real-world learning opportunities for our students. Education today requires active, engaging, and meaningful experiences. The VL academic program integrates these authentic activities regularly. Students are equipped through fieldwork in science, forestry, and outdoor moments that ground their learning.
- Fulfill our mission of “Preparing students for life with Christ as our foundation!” Preparation includes challenging students to take ownership of their environment. As we model good stewardship of God’s gifts, and empower students with impactful learning experiences, they leave Valley ready to enact positive change on their world.