Ecology program helps protect bay; Maryland: Garrett County Schools.

While rural Garrett County, Md., is home to scenic vistas and an array of rare plants and animals, most of the county's 15 schools did not have resources in or near their schoolyards to encourage regular student exploration and learning about the environment.

In the late fall of 2003, however, a grant by the Chesapeake Bay Trust made possible the establishment of a program that brings together expertise in education and ecology on school grounds. Known as Partners in Ecology and Restoration of Schoolyards (PIERS), the program is intended to help schools in western Maryland and local citizens create meaningful Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration and protection projects in schoolyards and to integrate the work into existing school curricula.

The program, which resulted in Garrett County Schools being named the state winner in the National Civic Star Award competition, builds on an innovative partnership between the school district and the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Appalachian Laboratory.

The laboratory is a leader in terrestrial and freshwater research and education in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Laboratory scientists and educators ensure ecological integrity of the restoration projects and provide scientific content while Garrett County teachers ensure the projects fit into their lesson plans and lead student activities related to the projects.

Since it began, the program has established one schoolyard meadow restoration project on the grounds of five county elementary schools and at Garrett County's Hickory Environmental Education Center. The program has also provided teacher workshops, appropriate lessons, supplies and follow-up support.

Community support has been critical to the program's success. Local and regional nursery experts in native plants and the Garrett County Forestry Board have provided information and advice to help ensure the development of sound ecological projects. Local businesses have donated merchandise and provided discounts on mulch and other supplies.

Nearly 40 parents and other community members have volunteered to help on planting days at the schools, whose student bodies range from 80 to 350 children. Community residents have also attended end-of-year school celebrations where students shared their accomplishments in presentations and gave tours of the project areas. Interpretive signs, student made brochures and newspaper articles have attracted community attention and increased stewardship.

The PIERS program began with fourth graders, expanded to include fifth graders in 2004-2005 and will involve all grades in the 2005-2006 school year. Students participate in all stages of creating the garden and meadow areas, including site location, plant selection and ordering, garden layout, site preparation and planting. All plants are labeled. Gardens average 900 square feet, and meadows average 2,700 square feet.

Science experiments and art and writing assignments have all been linked to the projects. Student reactions have been positive, and evaluations show that students understand the importance of creating the meadow areas.

Teachers have noted students developing good-citizenship practices, such as responsible care of the areas and prevention of vandalism, as a result of participation. Students previously uninvolved in activities have also become engaged in the projects.

Goals for the 2005-2006 school year include fostering meaningful experiences at schools already participating and helping to start projects at schools not yet involved in the program. Each school has developed a plan outlining schoolyard and curricular projects they intend to pursue and maintenance plans for sites already created. The Garrett County Board of Education also has the goal of all county schools attaining the Maryland Green School designation.

For more information, contact Superintendent Wendell Teets at 40 S. Second St., Oakland, Md. 21550, or call [phone]. To e-mail him, write [e-mail].