​SAVE THE PLANET

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Coastal Conservation Association

As a part of their curriculum, our students have learned about watersheds - specifically the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, and the human impact involved in the health of our water ways leading to and including our oceans. The Coastal Conservation Association provided the platform for our students to contribute to the health of our bay and to create habitat for a very important resource. Members of the CCA facilitated an experience where our students worked in groups to build oyster reef balls to be installed into the Chesapeake Bay. They gave a presentation to provide background information for our students about the importance of oysters in preserving the health of the Chesapeake Bay. The students then worked in cooperative groups to put reef ball molds together, mix concrete, and fill the molds. On day two, the students hatched the molds, loaded them onto the CCA trailer to be taken to the launch site, and cleaned up their workspace. 

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Mother Nature's 

We formed a partnership with Claire Horvath, the owner of Mother Nature’s, a local wild bird and nature store, in 2009. They have provided birdseed for our feeders for the last 12 years. Claire has also provided discounts on binoculars, has gifted our Project Feeder Watch students with reference books, and has visited our school to speak to our students about “all things birds”. Our students at Forest Ridge have benefited greatly from her mentorship and generosity!

 

 

Less Plastics, Please

Less Plastics, Please has partnered with us on our campaign to focus on reducing plastic pollution in our environment.  Pat Hershey, one of the founders of Less Plastics, Please, states: “We are a committed group of volunteers that have decided to do something about our plastic pollution crisis.  We have been successful in getting a fee on plastic bags in Howard County.  Now we're trying to reduce single-use plastics at the state and federal levels.  Join our efforts and together we can make a difference”. 

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The commitment to this important cause by this company has also been demonstrated in their dedication to our school. Representatives from Less Plastics, Please participated in our FRES carnival, gave a talk at our Enrichment Fair, and brought information to our staff regarding single-use plastics. They encouraged some of our students to write testimony and present their ideas and opinions at a county council meeting. Other students made posters, and others still passed on the information learned from Less Plastics, Please by educating our community about the overabundance of use of plastic bags. She also spoke at one of our parent information nights and provided a booth at our carnival.  We are now continuing working with this group to ban single use plastics such as straws and utensils at restaurants.  The students are very excited about this!

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