'We Had a Chance to Help the Bay'

When was rebuilt four years ago, construction crews brought in dirt that wasn’t on the site originally and planted trees in rows like an orchard, said Steve Fletcher, chairman of the Glen Burnie school’s social studies department.

At that point, Fletcher, an avowed environmentalist, said he decided to do something about it and started planning projects to help beautify and restore the school’s grounds, as well as help clean Marley Creek, which has been closed to swimming for three decades because of pollution.

About 150 students of Fletcher and science teacher Joan Shores in the Chesapeake Connections program worked on creating a native swale garden on the school, as well as projects in the community. With the exception of mulching, the garden was finished last week.

“Any time they do a huge construction project, they fill the area with dirt that’s not native to the area,” Fletcher said of the rebuilt school. “The trees are planted in rows. Only on an orchard do you have it in rows.”

So he procured grants from groups like Unity Gardens to build the native swale garden and fill it with native plants like New England aster, wild bergamot and spotted mint. And he spent time educating the students about the importance of what they were doing and how the plants would soak up the rainwater instead of the runoff draining into the creek, and eventually, the Chesapeake Bay.

“We were excited to do this. We had a chance to help the bay,” said eighth-grader Morgan Allen, 13.

Other projects the group has been working on in the community include stenciling storm drains to advise residents not to dump trash or pollutants in them and building a “living wall” to help with preventing runoff from draining into Marley Creek.

“We wanted it to be clean, so it can go back to being normal,” said eighth-grader Keahana Ford, 14.

Students also recently released Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm, two diamondback terrapins they had raised, just off Poplar Island.

Working on projects in the community is important for the students because it helps them take ownership of a project that will affect them directly, Fletcher said.

“Marley Creek is in our back yard. The kids all live along the creek and the bay. You’d be surprised at how much they don’t know at first,” he said. “But they’re all great kids, and I can’t say enough good things about them.”

At least one of Fletcher’s colleagues appreciates his efforts.

“Mr. Fletcher is a big advocate of saving greenery. He always has something on his plate,” said Sharon Whitney, language arts teacher. “It’s important they take ownership.”

That lesson seems to have taken hold with some of the students, who say they are now inspired to become more environmentally aware with other people in their lives.

“My family doesn’t recycle. We just throw bottles away. I want to help them be a little more greener,” Morgan said.