Local Schools Participate in 'Safer in the Shade' Project

Two local schools took part in a special Skin Cancer Awareness Month activity through the Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County.

The Partnership was awarded a grant from the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee to plant trees at area schools, according to a press release.

Meanwhile, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) developed a sun safety curriculum in coordination with an event to plant trees at Mechanicsville and Eldersburg elementary schools for the 2011 "Safer in the Shade" tree planting and cancer education lesson. 

On May 6, Meghan Tew of the PHCC, discussed the importance of sun safety with the first grade students at Mechanicsville Elementary School. The students were each given sunglasses and baseball caps for protection during their investigation for the best spot to plant trees at the school. At each spot the first grade class voted on whether their school grounds had enough shade. 

On May 20, STEM coordinator Bryan Shumaker worked with PCHH staff to address the fourth grade class at Eldersburg Elementary. There, the students used math, science and social studies to discuss sun safety and the amount of their school grounds protected by shade. 

A total of 11 trees were planted between the two elementary schools. 

The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County, Inc., an affiliate of Carroll Hospital Center and the Carroll County Health Department, is a private nonprofit community-led organization that seeks to build capacity for both health and quality of life improvement.