Owen Middle School
Nature’s Classroom
By Brittany Krasutsky, 7th Grade Science Teacher
C
harles D. Owen Middle School (OMS) is creating
a school landscape that promotes environmental
stewardship, citizen science and exploratory learning
through our Natural Impact Initiative (NII). Our goal is
to connect the digital generation of students to their
natural Appalachian heritage. We want our students
invested in the future of our valley, their community,
and globally... through hands-on learning experiences.
In the past year, OMS staff and students have actively
worked towards this goal through a variety of team events
which included hours of fundraising, hands-on installation,
field trips, and coordination with a variety of community
partners. Our current accomplishments include creating
a Native Pollinator outdoor classroom, complete with
raised pollinator beds; pond with waterfall; outdoor
seating for 30 students; and a quilt garden.
Students worked with the American Chestnut Foundation to plant an American Chestnut Germplasm
Conservation orchard, designed to assist in scientific efforts to save this species from the blight.
In addition, students worked with HopNBlueberry farm to obtain and plant over 30 milkweed
plants. They also planted wildflowers to create a Monarch Butterfly Waystation.
As OMS begins phase two of our NII, we’ve
formed a partnership with The Asheville
Design Center to map out other educational
sites on our 40 plus acres. Some of these will
include a platform and night vision cameras
for daily observation of our Beaver lodge,
one of the largest in Buncombe County;
planting native river cane for use in cultural
learning projects; and the addition of a low
ropes course for fun team building!
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