Lincolnville Central School seventh grade students have been studying our local watershed all year. We aimed to answer three questions: What is a watershed? How is a watershed important to our community? What animals do we think live in this area? We went outside and recorded our observations during art class and used them to Read More
learning
Jonesport Students Testing Local Water Quality
Jonesport, Maine, is a small, coastal community of approximately 1,300 people. It is a rural town and has no public water supply or sewer system. Water for all activities in the home comes from private wells or is purchased in the form of bottled water. The school’s drinking water contains trace amounts of lead and Read More
Loranger Memorial School Trail Mapping Project
The fifth, sixth, and seventh grade GATES (gifted and talented) students from Loranger Memorial School are working together on this project with help from their teacher, Mrs. Nye. The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) is helping us by providing a grant that we will use to go on field trips to local trails in Read More
Hope Elementary School’s 7th Grade Invasive Species Project
The 7th grade class from Hope Elementary School (HES) is undertaking a project funded by the Natural Resources Council of Maine to investigate invasive aquatic plant species. With their teacher, Mr. Amundsen, they have proposed to survey and detect the presence of invasive aquatic plant species from a local lake in Hope. Invasive aquatic species Read More
Athens Community School Middle School Students Learn about Local Wildlife
At Athens Community School, we have a unique Friday afternoon program called Learning Power. In this mock community, students choose a group to join for the year where they learn and practice real-life skills. This year, my group is a 4-H Club. In 4-H, children “learn by doing” while applying life skills, strengthening the fundamentals Read More
Gorham Middle School Weeds Out Invasive Species – Part II
Gorham Middle School students spent May 3rd and part of May 4th outside collecting data and treating the plots. Students came up with a variety of ways to try and eradicate the knotweed. Methods for treating plots include: covering with tarps, digging knotweed out, spraying with a mixture of vinegar and soap, also trying a Read More
St. George Students Get Hands-on Experience in the Marsh
The St. George science students have been very busy this spring. By participating in a number of hands-on experiences as well as talking to local experts, these students are seeking better understanding of how the lands and animals in and around the Marsh affect its health and movement. This post provides a sampling of what Read More
The Future of Maine’s Environment…It’s All About the Kids
On May 8 and 9, my wife Alix and I, accompanied by Gabrielle Grunkemeyer from NRCM, were hosted by Deer Isle-Stonington Elementary School and the Edna Drinkwater School in Northport. Sarah Oberink, the University of Maine NRCM intern, joined us at Edna Drinkwater. Visiting these schools and learning about the work they are doing helped Read More
Northport Students Study Aquaponics
What is Aquaponics? Aquaponics is a form of farming in which plants receive nutrients from fish waste in a symbiotic relationship, decontaminating the water. The fish produce waste, and plants use that waste for nutrients to grow. This creates a cycle, with the fish eating, the plants purifying the water, and us, the farmers, harvesting Read More
