Fourth-grade students were engaged and excited while visiting with National Military Park ranger Sherry Nodine Friday inside the new greenhouse on the Intermediate School campus.
"My students are beyond excited about this opportunity to get outside and get their hands dirty," said Brandy Knight, fourth-grade teacher.
Open house for public
5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10
The public is invited and encouraged to attend.
"I cannot wait to see how their minds grow and change through the experience they will get because of this grant!"
"One of the most lasting things a person can do to promote change to our culture is to educate our youth. It is through our youth that we will see real change," said Sherry Nodine, facility manager, Pea Ridge National Military Park
Nodine spoke to the children about heirloom plants and the importance of saving plant species for the future, about fertilizer and various ways to feed plants. She told the children that there were many trees on the park property that were quite old, whose presence told a story. One of the children commented about the rings in the trees telling about its history.
Kevin Eads, acting superintendent of PRNMP, and Keith Martin, assistant Pea Ridge School superintendent, expressed excitement about the program.
"What that will be depends on the experiences and education our youth receive today. It's our hope that we have made a positive difference in the lives of the youth we have had the privilege of meeting," she said.
The greenhouse was built with funds from a grant from the National Park Service and Outdoor Foundation which selected Pea Ridge Intermediate fourth-grade science as 2014 Challenge Cost Share Program recipient.
Pea Ridge Intermediate fourth-grade science received $25,000 to support its work to engage its students through a partnership with the Pea Ridge National Military Park. All 137 students in this class will be challenged to grow plants using natural means in a self-sustaining greenhouse through research, trial and error, and hands-on experiences.
The National Park Service and the Outdoor Foundation recipients of the 2014 Challenge Cost Share Program, which supports projects that promote urban outreach, youth engagement and connecting people to the outdoors. The partners selected 20 projects, from 187 applications, and will award nearly $400,000 that will be matched by an additional $885,000 in direct and in-kind contributions from recipients. A total of 14,000 youth are expected to be engaged through this program.
Community on 02/04/2015