Bolingbrook Students Participate in Earth Day

Photo: Students from Bolingbrook High School clear an area of invasive species.

Submitted by Bolingbrook High School

Many students these days have heard of Earth Day, but rarely have the opportunity to participate in a real world hands-on project enhancing their understanding.

This year, Bolingbrook High School was able to provide an Earth Day cooperative learning experience for over 400 students, raising their awareness of the need to help the earth by using the environment surrounding BHS.

“Our goal is to restore native plants to our natural area and utilize this site as an outdoor classroom,” said BHS science teacher Pat Gennardo. “We had a great day with the students, staff and the park district staff working together on our prairie.”

Students continued an ongoing effort to clear the area north of the BHS football stadium of invasive species, preparing the site for seeding of native species. Students also cleared the path and spread mulch chips provided by the Bolingbrook Park District.

“BHS students collaborated beyond the classroom, demonstrated ownership of the site and performed tangible tasks knowing they made a difference in our local environment,” Gennardo said. “It was great to see the smiles, the enthusiasm and the school spirit displayed by our students.”

To help with the effort, BHS received a School Yard Habitat Grant, as well as a $300 Wild Ones Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Grant. BHS was the only Illinois recipient of the Wild Ones grant.