Princeton Montessori School Campus Is Now A Certified Wildlife Habitat

PRINCETON, NJ – The Princeton Montessori School (PMonts) campus is not just beautiful, but is now a certified wildlife habitat. The school was recently recognized by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) for creating a Certified Schoolyard Habitat through its Garden for Wildlife program, the school said.

PMonts joined over 5,000 schools nationwide in transformed their schoolyards into wildlife habitats that provide essential elements needed by all wildlife – natural food sources, clean water, cover and places to raise young, the school said.

The habitat also serves as an outdoor education site where students can engage in cross-curricular learning in a hands-on way.

The school's Wildlife Habitat is part of the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge, a national effort to restore critical habitat for pollinators.

"We are pleased that our beautiful campus is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat," Head of School, Michelle Morrison said in a statement. "Spending time in nature is a core tenet of the Montessori philosophy, as Dr. Montessori believed that exposure to nature promotes physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development in children.”

PMonts' campus includes several flower gardens, and an expanded vegetable garden. The school has 20 acres of woodland, which includes species like oak, sweet gum, Black Tulip, American Elm, Common Persimmon and many other native plants.

PMonts students spend a lot of time outdoors, particularly during their weekly Ecology class (grades 1-8).

"My aim for the Ecology students is to not just be comfortable in nature, but to truly appreciate it and grow up wanting to protect it," Ecology teacher, Gery Juleff said. "Rain or shine, we try to go outside and use our outdoor classroom in the heart of our woods. The students love it there."

NWF’s Garden for Wildlife program encourages responsible gardening that helps pollinators and other wildlife thrive. It encourages planting with native species and discouraging chemical pesticide use.

“We are excited to have another school join our growing list of more than 5,000 certified Schoolyard Habitats. Kids can now personally experience nature through hands-on learning in an outdoor environment,” Liz Soper, Director of K-12 Programs for National Wildlife Federation said in a statement.

The NWF has around 200,000 Certified Wildlife Habitats locations across the country. Each of the nearly 200,000 certified locations provides food, water, cover and places to raise young. This makes yards, schools, businesses, places of worship, campuses, parks, farms and other community-based landscapes into wildlife sanctuaries.

Princeton Montessori School, located on Cherry valley Road, was founded in 1968 and an independent, coeducational day school.

Have a correction or a news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com