Eastern Middle School Rainscapes Club
Ed Murtagh
Jan 22, 2010
On December 10, 2009, the Eastern Middle School Rainscapes Club held its Kick Off Meeting. This after-school program encourages students to learn about stormwater and other environmental issues and to share what they learn with the wider comment. The club, supported by the County's Department of Environmental Protection, Friends of Sligo Creek, and parent volunteers, has an ambitious four month plan that includes developing a club web site and blog, completing a site inventory and analysis of the school grounds, designing landscape projects, and developing maintenance plans.

During a club meeting in January, FoSC Stormwater Committee members walked the school grounds with the students grounds with the students and then gave a history of the Rainscapes projects currently on the school grounds (rain gardens, tree plantings, and conservation landscaping). We found the diverse group of students already informed about stormwater issues and eager to discuss the reasons Rainscapes projects are important. They answered questions with great insight. When asked why a diversity of plants were important for rainscaping and habitat they poetically replied that the roots of and canopy of different plants formed a living "jigsaw puzzle" and that if one plant served as food for a particular animal or insect there would be others to fill in. They soaked up the history of the projects on their yard.

We look forward to continuing to support the students and to following their accomplishments.

Rainscapes Club in front of the first rain garden at the front entrance
Rainscape club member Justin helping parent volunteer Beth Chaisson
install one of the downspout "rainscape" gardens fall 2009
Students listening and relaying their knowledge
about rainscapes and habitat landscaping