Invasive Plants Removal
In March 2016, about 20 Poly students teamed up with Weed Warriors (Baltimore Rec & Parks) to remove invasive vines from the trees in the school's forest buffer bordering the Jones Falls. Large amounts of vines were removed, saving trees from deaths. Photos below document the first removal, and many more are scheduled for the next two months.
Oyster Reef Habitat Balls
A handful of Poly students from the Environment Club (8, and accompanied by a 5th grader non-Poly student) are currently working with the Maryland Saltwater Sport Fishermen's Association (MSSA), Stevenson University's oyster reef ball habitat project, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to construct ten oyster reef habitat balls and deploy them into the Chesapeake Bay in spring 2016.
The first construction date happened on March 12, 2016. Construction dates are scheduled for various Saturdays throughout April, with completion of the project by May for deployment of the oyster balls by CBF in mid-May.
Funding for the oyster ball project came from the Environment Club's Green Healthy Smart Challenge grant for $1500 from the Baltimore Office of Sustainability. This grant was received in winter 2015 and will be used for the oyster ball project as well as a camping trip for club members and a bottle greenhouse.
The first construction date happened on March 12, 2016. Construction dates are scheduled for various Saturdays throughout April, with completion of the project by May for deployment of the oyster balls by CBF in mid-May.
Funding for the oyster ball project came from the Environment Club's Green Healthy Smart Challenge grant for $1500 from the Baltimore Office of Sustainability. This grant was received in winter 2015 and will be used for the oyster ball project as well as a camping trip for club members and a bottle greenhouse.
Building Bird Boxes
In March 2016, about 20 students in Poly worked to build 10 bird boxes to be posted around the school for the coming spring season. They used power tools to assemble the boxes and learned some basic carpentry along the way!
Courtyard Restoration
Big Sib Little Sib, a peer mentoring group at Poly, has been working to renovate and restore a courtyard space at Poly to become a vibrant component of the schoolyard. One main focus of the project, in partnership with the Environment Club, is native plant raised gardens and rain gardens in order to create valuable wildlife habitat at Poly. Another proposed component is a green or living wall.
The project began in fall 2014, when BSLS applied for and won four grants for their project: a Lowe's Education grant for $5,000; a Youth As Resources grant for $3,541.05; $1,000 from the Mitzvah Fund for Good Deeds; and a $1,500 grant from the Baltimore Office of Sustainability's Green Healthy Smart Challenge. Attached are confirmations for those grants (the Youth as Resources grant does not have any documentation because of lack of response from group leader; we apologize for any inconvenience).
In fall of 2015, the Environment Club joined the initiative to help design the habitat improvement gardens for the courtyard space. This spring (after application deadline), construction and planting will be performed in the space.
The project began in fall 2014, when BSLS applied for and won four grants for their project: a Lowe's Education grant for $5,000; a Youth As Resources grant for $3,541.05; $1,000 from the Mitzvah Fund for Good Deeds; and a $1,500 grant from the Baltimore Office of Sustainability's Green Healthy Smart Challenge. Attached are confirmations for those grants (the Youth as Resources grant does not have any documentation because of lack of response from group leader; we apologize for any inconvenience).
In fall of 2015, the Environment Club joined the initiative to help design the habitat improvement gardens for the courtyard space. This spring (after application deadline), construction and planting will be performed in the space.
The Green, Healthy, Smart Challenge grant below. Please scroll to page 4 for the actual grant.
bpi__-_green_healthy_smart_challenge_application__1___1_.pdf | |
File Size: | 803 kb |
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Tree Maintenance
In mid-February 2016, about 15 students in Poly teamed with Blue Water Baltimore to help maintain the trees planted December 2015 and protect them from deer for the spring growing season by adding mow guards and deer fences to trees. A tree that had fallen in the snow was also revitalized.
Poly Native Gardening Club
The Gardening Club has been active in Poly for the past several years in maintaining and using a school garden! This document showcases what the gardening club is all about!
domain_4-1a_when_you_garden_you_grow.pdf | |
File Size: | 1174 kb |
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