Obj. 2.4 Habitat Restoration
Student Driven Initiatives -
#1 - Tree planting at the Howard County Conservancy
Students participated in helping to plant 50 saplings of persimmon and oak trees at the Howard County Conservancy. The trees planted provided food and shelter for native animals. Additionally, the trees were planted near a stream, increasing the stability of the stream banks, reducing erosion and improving the habitat for aquatic organisms in the stream. Safiya E., a student that participated in the event on October 23, 2018 stated, "Planting the trees and learning about the animals caused me to have a greater appreciation of the world around me, and gave me more ideas about how to improve the environment."
Students participated in helping to plant 50 saplings of persimmon and oak trees at the Howard County Conservancy. The trees planted provided food and shelter for native animals. Additionally, the trees were planted near a stream, increasing the stability of the stream banks, reducing erosion and improving the habitat for aquatic organisms in the stream. Safiya E., a student that participated in the event on October 23, 2018 stated, "Planting the trees and learning about the animals caused me to have a greater appreciation of the world around me, and gave me more ideas about how to improve the environment."
#2 - Supporting Native bird species through providing habitat and monitoring populations
5 students invested some of their time to learning more about native bird species. In February 2018, a student volunteered in the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Benjamin Banneker Museum. He reported back that he "saw a Red Cardinal, five House Finches, two Tufted Titmouses, two Common Nuthatches, an American Oriole, five Blue jays, and a crow."
Over Winter break (December 2018), students built a bird box and then installed it on the school's property to provide a nesting site for native blue birds. Additionally, these students presented to the community about the decline of Eastern Blue Birds, the importance of building bird boxes and how to set up one successfully.
5 students invested some of their time to learning more about native bird species. In February 2018, a student volunteered in the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Benjamin Banneker Museum. He reported back that he "saw a Red Cardinal, five House Finches, two Tufted Titmouses, two Common Nuthatches, an American Oriole, five Blue jays, and a crow."
Over Winter break (December 2018), students built a bird box and then installed it on the school's property to provide a nesting site for native blue birds. Additionally, these students presented to the community about the decline of Eastern Blue Birds, the importance of building bird boxes and how to set up one successfully.
#3 - Invasive Species Identification on Campus and Invasive species removal in the community
In the Fall of 2018, students began researching the impacts of invasive plant species on native organisms. They decided to identify invasive species on our school's campus. Students assembled a packet showing pictures of the invasive species at our school, their names, physical description and ways in which to eradicate them. The student created Invasive Plant Species Guide can be used by future classes of students to learn about the prevalence of invasive species on our campus and encourage the removal of them.
In January of 2019, Centennial Senior, Gabby D. volunteered in a Weed Warrior program at Lake Frank. In the program, she learned about which plants at the park were native and which were invasive and how the invasive plants had became a problem. She spent two hours pulling up the roots of Japanese Barberry and Oriental Bittersweet. Gabby reflected "I had a great time despite the cold weather and enjoyed talking with so many passionate people. It surprised me to discover just how many environmentalist there are in my local area."
On Saturday, November 4, 2017, 3 Centennial students, Ryan Ca., Ryan Co., and Jun L. went to the Oella Cemetery in neighboring Catonsville, Maryland to help clean up the area. They worked from 10:00-1:00 and removed trash and invasive species. Ryan Ca. reflected "this event helped the environment because we removed litter and other pollutants. We were also able to uncover grave stones that were completely surrounded by hay grass. These community service hours not only helped the environment, but also the community."
In the Fall of 2018, students began researching the impacts of invasive plant species on native organisms. They decided to identify invasive species on our school's campus. Students assembled a packet showing pictures of the invasive species at our school, their names, physical description and ways in which to eradicate them. The student created Invasive Plant Species Guide can be used by future classes of students to learn about the prevalence of invasive species on our campus and encourage the removal of them.
In January of 2019, Centennial Senior, Gabby D. volunteered in a Weed Warrior program at Lake Frank. In the program, she learned about which plants at the park were native and which were invasive and how the invasive plants had became a problem. She spent two hours pulling up the roots of Japanese Barberry and Oriental Bittersweet. Gabby reflected "I had a great time despite the cold weather and enjoyed talking with so many passionate people. It surprised me to discover just how many environmentalist there are in my local area."
On Saturday, November 4, 2017, 3 Centennial students, Ryan Ca., Ryan Co., and Jun L. went to the Oella Cemetery in neighboring Catonsville, Maryland to help clean up the area. They worked from 10:00-1:00 and removed trash and invasive species. Ryan Ca. reflected "this event helped the environment because we removed litter and other pollutants. We were also able to uncover grave stones that were completely surrounded by hay grass. These community service hours not only helped the environment, but also the community."
#4 - Centennial's Insect Hotel
Students who knew the importance of insects in the ecosystem made an insect hotel for our school to attract beneficial bugs to our grounds. The insect hotel was placed near a classroom where it can be monitored by students throughout the Spring.
Students who knew the importance of insects in the ecosystem made an insect hotel for our school to attract beneficial bugs to our grounds. The insect hotel was placed near a classroom where it can be monitored by students throughout the Spring.