- Day 1. On September 13, 1996, we introduced the students to the project by walking them outside to our area and telling them about our grant. Then, we went back to the classrooms and brainstormed ideas on how to spend the $3,5000. The following questions were used to guide the discussions;
- How would you spend $2000 to help the community?
- How would you spend $2000 to help the students at PWLMS?
- How could we improve what is currently there?
- What particular projects could we take on that would fall within our budget?
After brainstorming we then gathered back together as a large group and shared our ideas.
The ideas were so similar that we were able to reach consensus on a general focus for our project.
- Day 2. On September 16, 1996, Sue Rae Irelan, Program Manager for the Tahoe Center for a Sustainable Future was our guest speaker. With the students, she led a discussion on the steps involved in implementing our greenbelt enhancement . Steps include the following:
- Establishing a goal.
- Collecting data on:
- land, air, water
- regulations
- history
- needs
- Opportunities and limitations for implementation.
- Identifying alternatives to original idea(s).
- Developing a proposal.
- Adopting one proposal.
- Implementing the proposal and monitoring its progress/existence.
Next, Sue presented a simulation to help the students identify goals for the project. This involved breaking the students into groups based on a particular point of view and asking each group to identify what they would want to see on the site. Each interest group then reported back to the entire group and a consensus was developed. Students identified that the park would be used by community members of all ages. While the primary use of the site would be an outdoor classroom for the students of Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, anyone wanting a quiet, natural place to "hang out" would be welcome. Students agreed that benches, a stage area, a running/exercise/walking path and picnic tables are facilities they would like to see included.
- Day 3. On September 17, 1996, the 100 students of Core 7C began the day sketching their "ideal" park plan and began researching the flora and fauna native to Nevada. Nancy Bish, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Forest Service then visited PWLMS. The core was split into two groups. While one group visited the project site next to the school with two classroom teachers, the second group stayed in the building with Ms. Bish. Site visitors took an inventory of animal species, differentiating between species visible at mid-day and evidence of species that visit the area at other times of the day. Students noted scat, burrows, feathers, nests and trash providing evidence of dogs or coyotes, rodents and/or rabbits, birds, ants and humans. Inside, Nancy Bish spoke with students about the importance of maintaining a natural habitat to attract or continue supporting native animal species. She brought skulls, nests, bird wings and a stuffed great horned owl to emphasize species that might be found in or near the project site. She told students about the work of a wildlife biologist using a slide program to enhance the story.
- Day 4. On September 20, 1996 Dick Post, horticulturist and soil analyst with the University of Nevada, Reno Cooperative Extension, visited Core 7C and conducted a soil analysis of the greenbelt enhancement site with two separate groups of students. Students tested the soil for pH, salinity, texture and percolation rates. Much to our joy, we discovered the soil to be in the 6.5 to 7.0 range (perfect for plant life!) and sandy/loam in texture (also perfect for plant life!)
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To Learn More Contact:
Sue Rae Irelan, Program Manager, TCSF
P.O. Box 1096
Homewood, CA 96141
phone: 916-525-1646 fax: 916-525-1613
email: srirelan@sierra.net
Last Updated on November 15, 1996