SUNNYSIDE ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOOL

Portland

Sunnyside School has created a “living laboratory” for the entire school community.  The school supports project based curriculum with hands-on learning opportunities for students to work at their own level and rate of learning. The social studies curriculum integrates art, literature, research and writing to answer the key question: “How does history influence the environment and how does the environment influence history.”  The Middle School has a three year rotation of the environmental core curriculum which includes rivers, mountains, and forests. All students study the same curriculum in any given year. Community meals are also an integral piece of curriculum.  Once a month, middle school students prepare and develop a menu based on local and seasonal items.  Elementary students contribute one item for “stone soup”.  The strong service based project learning provides students with many valuable connections throughout the community.  The school garden incorporates a strong art component and includes stepping stones, tile work and a cob bench. 

Member Since: 2004

# of 4-H WS Volunteers: Two

Partners: Portland Parks, PSU, Jeans Farm, METRO, SOLV, Sunnyside Neighborhood Association, PTA, Portland Nursery, Oregon Green Schools and local businesses

Member Since: 2001

# of 4-H WS Volunteers: Four

Partners: Portland Nursery, Friends of Trees, PSU, Mt. Tabor Neighborhood Association and local builders and Swinerton Builders, Kenton Wiens Design and Steve Tucker Design.

 

PRESCOTT SCHOOL

Parkrose

Prescott is the newest 4-H Member school in our tour. In the first year of their project volunteers have raised $5425 in grants, materials and in-kind donations. This project is a community-school project that provides environmental educational experiences for the entire school community. Students and families and Prescott community members develop skills and knowledge in wildlife and land stewardship including composting, gardening, and watershed education. While this school has traditionally had difficulty in recruiting volunteers, the 3 work parties have been extremely successful. The community has been an integral part of the project’s development contributing volunteers, time, and financial support. One reason this school has been so successful is due to their Habitat Team. The team consists of 5 trained 4-H Wildlife Stewards , teachers, the school psychologist, and the principal. Each grade at the school is incorporating plans to use site. Key topics will include: Composting, soil properties, life science in the garden, and watershed effects on the garden site and the community.

 

Member Since: 2005

# of 4-H WS Volunteers: Five

Partners: Home Depot, Metro, Parkrose Hardware, Parent Family Community Association and the Parkrose Education Foundation

ROSE CITY PARK

Portland

Prior to 1999 the playground was entirely asphalt. Through the organization and dedication of parent 4-H Wildlife Stewards Volunteers, today the playground has been transformed. The site now includes a wildlife habitat and a naturescape garden. Initial planting took place in September 2000 which included removing a large amount of asphalt to help reduce water runoff from the school grounds into Portland sewers. Maintenance and enhancement are on-going. The spaces are used for hand-on science lessons and are enjoyed as quiet green-space. Community work parties consistently bring many people. Art and murals are included in the Habitat Education Site. The entire neighborhood community uses the site as well for a variety of functions. Parental involvement in this project at the school is consistently high. The project also includes a 4-H after-school Junior Wildlife Stewards club which meets weekly and currently has a waiting list.

Member Since: 1999

# of 4-H WS Volunteers: Three

Partners: Rose City Park PTA, Portland Parks and Recreations, Green Neighborhood Network, Oregon National Guard, Loy Clark Pipeline, Friends of Trees, Rose City Neighborhood Association, the Portland Schools Foundation, Community of Writers, and M.U.S.E.

SETH LEWELLING

Portland

Seth Lewelling School will be applying for Level IV certification with the 4-H Wildlife Stewards Program, the highest level of certification.  If successful, they will be the first school to reach Level IV certification.  Seth Lewelling uses project-based learning and the study of our natural environment as a unifying focus for their school.  There is dedicated participation from staff, the principal, parents, students and community members.  The site includes a 11 acre natural tree arboretum, a wetland,  and raised vegetable beds.  Students have researched, designed and built a recirculating stream, frog pond, bird garden and two butterfly gardens.  The students have also hung bird boxes, bat boxes and mason bee boxes for year round research projects.  Recycling is an important component of the school wide efforts to be environmentally friendly.  Students compost kitchen and lunch waste in compost piles and worm bins  After a successful program for three years with 4-H Wildlife Stewards the school applied  and received  approval to become an Environmental Magnet School in 2003.   Today the school draws students from across the entire school district.

Member Since: 2000

# of 4-H WS Volunteers: Six

Partners: Lewlling Neighborhood Association, local businesses, Portland Nursery, Xerces Society, SOLV and Wetland Conservancy