New Pond Opens at Point Elementary

students can now learn outside with the addition of an outdoor education lab.

The new addition features a pond, stream and working waterfall, and fish will be added in the future.

Teachers can take the curriculum out of the classroom and into the garden, learning different aspects of physical science. Students will be able to gain hands-on experience with an aquatic ecosystem, following how natural algae and fungi grow and tracking aquatic plants.

Students can also create experiments and learn how to care for the pond’s ecosystem using water treatment techniques and ultraviolet lamps.

Fourth grade teacher Melissa Vandeven assisted with installing the pond and the Outdoor Education Garden Club will take care of the pond and its inhabitants.

Pondmarket, located in the South County Mall, and its Vice President of Operations Aaron Burchet, donated labor and service to make the pond a reality. Pondmarket oversaw the installation, maintenance training and designed the pond for the school.

Landscaping rocks were also donated by Ideal Landscaping Group, which helped Point when they .