Limerick Students to Aid Landis, Perkiomen Creeks

The following release was sent in by Shaun Bailey representing the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary:

Limerick Students to Aid Landis, Perkiomen Creeks

WHO: Participants in the Schuylkill Action Students program at . These will include students, teachers, maintenance staff, and a local partner; in this case, the Montgomery County Conservation District.

WHAT: About 200 students and their families will plant at least 100 trees along Landis Creek, a small waterway flowing to the Perkiomen Creek and, later, the Schuylkill River. They will also participate in an outdoor environmental-science lesson. This includes how their actions impact others in Montgomery County, their connection to the Delaware Estuary and more.

WHEN: October 14, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.* (Rain date: October 17)

*Timing Note: Volunteers will be working in groups of 40 or more during one-hour increments throughout the school day.

WHERE: Limerick Elementary School, 81 Limerick Center Road, Royersford, PA 19468-1399

WHY: According to the Philadelphia Water Department, schools own the most riverfront land between Schuylkill County and the city. Even so, about 230 miles of these waterways are impaired due to polluted runoff stemming from excess fertilizer, dog waste, leaking engine oil and more. That is why the Schuylkill Action Network is launching the Schuylkill Action Students program. Its purpose is to recruit volunteers who will plant grasses, shrubs and trees near waterways like Landis Creek. This way, polluted runoff is soaked up and filtered naturally by plants. Schools, meanwhile, gain valuable teaching experiences, outdoor learning spaces, and decreased maintenance costs.

HOW: Sponsors for this event include the Montgomery County Conservation District, Schuylkill Action Network, Spring-Ford Area School District, and TreeVitalize.