tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90089018006175594282024-02-20T18:03:21.428-08:00Kids and Native PlantsMark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-39010988281503604362010-04-15T17:05:00.000-07:002010-04-15T17:27:01.927-07:00More school projects in MichiganThere are several school projects around Michigan that I'd like to know more about.<br /><br />In the Grand Rapids area, there's a prairie project at Goodwillie School.<br /><br />In Macomb, Atwood Elementary School (part of L’Anse Creuse Public Schools) has a native plant garden with a water quality focus. (They also have a vegetable garden that supplies a local soup kitchen.) <br /><br />In the Plymouth-Canton-Northville area, there's another. Unfortunatly, I've mislaid the note.<br /><br />More later.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-23361874562415301242010-03-14T10:17:00.000-07:002010-03-20T10:21:36.495-07:00pollinators in gardens simply more interestingHere's a great quote on gardening with pollinators in mind:<br /><br /><blockquote> <p>“It is the gardeners of the world who can open their gardens to the pollinator refugees, who can provide temporary or permanent shelter until humans refine our outlook on the natural world.</p> <p>By actively sheltering pollinators, we gardeners remind ourselves that we have the power to positively overcome some of the humankind's more destructive tendencies.</p> <p>Additionally, our gardens provide a teaching laboratory for young children to connect with an ever-vanishing natural environment.</p> <p>Our gardens might provide a network of urban and suburban biological corridors that link more protected sites and allow pollinators to move freely from one natural area via our gardens to other natural areas.</p> <p>And finally, all lofty, Earth-saving notions aside, <span style="font-weight: bold;">you might wish to encourage pollinators in your gardens simply because they are more interesting</span> than any television show you can imagine.”</p> <p>Eric Grissell, author of <span style="font-style: italic;">Insects and Gardens</span></p> </blockquote>Thanks to Janet Allen for sharing this quote.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-63906104432009830592009-12-30T19:14:00.000-08:002009-12-30T19:14:00.301-08:00College studentsBack in the late 1990s, David Warners was a great friend of the Childrens' Wet Peadow Project at Ann Arbor's Buhr Park.<br /><br />Now a biology prof in Grand Rapids, his students have been planting trees and creating woodland habitat on campus.<br /><br />See photos and text on the Calvin College web site <a href="http://www.calvin.edu/news/2008-09/mitigation/">here.</a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-7055238326296598552009-12-29T07:55:00.000-08:002009-12-29T07:58:18.444-08:00Youth in India work to preserve trees for the futureWhile this blog is mostly focused on youth projects in Michigan, USA, here's an exception.<br /><br />It's exciting to see that young people around the world are taking action to preserve trees.<br /><br />Here's the write-up (I discovered it by chance.)<br /><br />http://ringsofsilverpv.blogspot.com/2009/11/siemens-nizhal-go-green-initiative.html<a href="http://ringsofsilverpv.blogspot.com/2009/11/siemens-nizhal-go-green-initiative.html"></a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-35857957420549713632009-11-23T15:59:00.000-08:002009-11-23T16:07:00.463-08:00Monroe, Mich. students planting natives on local TVScience teacher Russ Columbus continues his great work at the Knabusch Mathematics and Science Center, part of Monroe (Mich.) Public Schools. In November, students planted seeds collected over the past few years to create a prairie on our campus that will be used by future students. They did the planting on school days from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM during the second week of November, 2009.<br /><br />Toledo TV WTOL came and did a live story one of the mornings. The video is on their website. Go to WTOL.com and search for "Monroe students learn about planting".<br /><br />This project has received awards from Wild Ones and the Wildflower Association of Michigan.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-83254175517114239582009-11-16T07:52:00.000-08:002009-12-29T07:55:14.023-08:00Michigan teen researches prescribed fireA teen from southwest Michigan has won an award for her research project on using prescribed fire to maintain prairies.<br /><br />See<br /><br />http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2009/AH.html<a href="http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2009/AH.html"></a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-48691641468013159882009-10-30T15:12:00.000-07:002009-12-30T15:18:52.595-08:00Kids in Lowell Plant 1000 TreesElementary school students in Lowell, Michigan, planted 1,000 trees in October 2009. They planted oaks and maples of local genotype at the Wege Natural Area. Photos are available in the newsletter of the Land Conservancy of West Michigan, page 10. Funding was provided by Dell Computer.<br /><br />http://www.naturenearby.org/Data/Resources/File/Newsletters/LCWM%20Winter%2009-10%20Newsletter.pdfMark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-73559345372605444002009-08-19T12:12:00.000-07:002009-09-05T12:22:18.776-07:00Joseph Cornell is coming to Ann Arbor in OctoberAnyone who is interested in kids and nature is probably familiar with the books by Joseph Cornell.<br /><br />He wrote <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sharing Nature with Children</span> and other books. His work and workshops are known worldwide. His work focuses on connecting with nature and his techniques can be used by teachers, naturalists, group leaders – and of course parents.<br /><br />Joseph Cornell will give a free public lecture Friday October 16 starting at 4pm in room 1040 of the Dana Building on U-M’s Central Campus in Ann Arbor<br /><br />On Saturday October 17 and repeated Sunday October 18, Joseph Cornell will lead his workshop on Sharing Nature with Children.<br /><br />This workshop leads participants through his flow learning techniques. Through learning games and active engagement workshop participants will learn activities and ideas used in his books, that really do work with kids. (I have used them for years!) The workshop is for adults that work with kids or want to engage kids in nature and deepening their connection to nature.<br /><br />Each workshop is 6 hours with an hour for lunch. The same workshop offered Saturday, is repeated on Sunday.<br /><br />Pre-Registration is essential as space in each workshop is limited.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-4637347332113672022009-07-16T14:31:00.000-07:002009-07-16T14:35:47.241-07:00Wings and Seeds - Zaagki Project in Marquette, Mich.The folks at the Wings and Seeds - Zaagki Project in Marquette, Mich. have some great photos of teens making homes for butterflies and bees. They also show kids planting native plants in a greenhouse for later use in habitat restotation projects.<br /><br />See their page at<br /> http://www.cedartreeinstitute.org/zaagkii.html<br /><br />I'm looking forward to updates from 2009.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-13943881195127381222009-05-07T15:46:00.000-07:002009-05-07T16:05:36.314-07:00Buzzing the Hive - Introducing Kids to HoneybeesBuzzing the Hive<br />2:00 PM Sunday May 31, 2009<br />at the Eddy Discovery Center<br /><br />Children and adults will enjoy this fascinating look into the lives of honeybees with educator and beekeeper Jane Levy. Observe an actual hive, and learn how the bees build the hive and work together to make honey.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzolXPDnnKRT34rMtRh9WXBnjExFdhYPLJlxFqG6pFeDzRDKKoB7seJwEVzW04uv14FIiRh-qAj0Gaq1u5B9yIW3yLOfmcz-gkDrejr_OooXCxCnhpr-fsBDPkHwupZojyfYwJOMc7c9iI/s1600-h/girl-in-bee-suit.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 164px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzolXPDnnKRT34rMtRh9WXBnjExFdhYPLJlxFqG6pFeDzRDKKoB7seJwEVzW04uv14FIiRh-qAj0Gaq1u5B9yIW3yLOfmcz-gkDrejr_OooXCxCnhpr-fsBDPkHwupZojyfYwJOMc7c9iI/s200/girl-in-bee-suit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333219018804401682" border="0" /></a><br />Parts of this experience will include an 8 minute movie showing the capture of a swarm of bees in front of the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum (<i>Once Upon a Swarm), </i>a <i>PowerPoint </i>presentation about bees and beekeeping, and a chance to make a model of a bee to take away with you. Participants will learn about the importance of honey bees as pollinators for much of our food. They can try on a full beekeepers protective suit and taste the sweet honey from a local hive.<br /><br />The Eddy Discovery Center is located at 17030 Bush Road 48118, between Pierce and McClure roads in Chelsea, Michigan. Take I-94 to exit 157 (Pierce Road) and go north to Bush Road. Take Bush Road west to the center.<br /><br />This event is sponsored by the <a href="http://wnha.org/">Waterloo Natural History Assn.</a> For more information, phone (734) 475-3170.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by Jane Levy.</span>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-73877707891730505352009-05-05T17:15:00.000-07:002009-05-05T17:39:49.005-07:00Detroit School wins grant for pollinator gardenThe Oliver Wendell Holmes Elementary School in Detroit has won a grant for <strong>Fly, Baby, Fly!:</strong><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvrPGAqqD48tLRyZRTTQzNgL8PnFQ6KfUYgYb8Jd4VZjEFzQAklIuDA8iPe3AdaAmcsuPywDaqOVriE9s3vWtxa2ldHc-SQtwZfr-39XcsC7nqZp4oxVdZ1GF7MDmblg9HUGoQHH7QShS/s1600-h/DSC00106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvrPGAqqD48tLRyZRTTQzNgL8PnFQ6KfUYgYb8Jd4VZjEFzQAklIuDA8iPe3AdaAmcsuPywDaqOVriE9s3vWtxa2ldHc-SQtwZfr-39XcsC7nqZp4oxVdZ1GF7MDmblg9HUGoQHH7QShS/s200/DSC00106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332500235737996242" border="0" /></a><br />This project will create a safe haven for butterflies to return to an urban area, bringing excitement, pollination, and enjoyment by students and community members alike.<br /><br />Designed and maintained by students, it will become part of an outdoor learning environment for all children in this neighborhood school.<br /><br />The grant was awarded by <a href="http://monarch.pwnet.org/garden_grants.php">Monarch Live.</a><br /><br />This school is featured in the PBS documentary, <a href="http://www.michigantelevision.org/childrenplay/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Where to the Children Play</span></a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo by Connie Bank, The Garden Tutor.</span>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-23807944759648865802009-04-27T04:37:00.000-07:002009-05-05T18:28:01.995-07:00Kids can do science with sunflowers and insectsThere's an article in the <a href="http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/24/MNHJ176D4C.DTL">San Francisco Chronicle</a> about the Great Sunflower project.<br /><br />Highly recommended.<br /><br />Also, starting this year, participants can make observations on native plants, including bee balm (Monarda), tickseed (Coreopsis) and goldenrod (Solidago.)<br /><br />Join the project and <a href="http://www.greatsunflower.org/en/recording-sample-data">contribute your observations</a>. It's easy and fun.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-72959292893108177132009-04-18T16:38:00.000-07:002009-04-20T16:54:21.740-07:00Tribal and city kids help Monarchs and pollinatorsIn Michigan's Upper Penninsula, teens from the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) and urban youth from Marquette are helping Monarchs and other pollinators. In 2008 they built butterfly homes and raised native plants that they will plant in 2009.<br /><br />Their project is called the <strong>Zaagkii Project </strong><br /><br />See the write-up <a href="http://www.nativevillage.org/Messages%20from%20the%20People/MesPeo%20KBIC%20Tribal%20Youth%20Zaagkii%20Project/kbic_tribal_youth_protect_pollin1.htm">here</a> for details.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-14654700789863909252009-03-29T07:28:00.000-07:002009-04-05T07:39:15.497-07:00Kids and monarchs - Journey NorthMost kids I know are eager for signs of Spring, especially when the weather is gray and chilly.<br /><br />For a detailed view that yes, Spring is coming, check out the Monarch migration information at <a href="http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/index.html">Journey North</a>. Kids, parents and teachers across North America enter their observations. Everyone can see the patterns of the annual migration, along with photos, maps and first-hand reports.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-39092490770638949852009-01-17T11:50:00.000-08:002009-01-24T12:00:51.810-08:00Monarch Migration on PBS1) The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies: Tuesday, January 27<br />A TV show not to be missed - The Incredible Journey of the Butterflies--can be seen on PBS this coming Tuesday, Jan. 27th at 8:00 p.m. EST. Follow the 2,000 mile migration of Monarch butterflies to a sanctuary in the Highlands of Mexico. Monarchs face many challenges in both the United States and Mexico, and their annual migration is becoming an endangered phenomenon. "You will be awestruck to see what these little flying jewels go through to complete their brief life cycle," says Dr. Lincoln Brower who is featured in the program. "Each one of us can make a difference in increasing the Monarch population."<br /><br />Read Chip Taylor's blog posting at <a href="http://monarchwatch.org/blog/" target="_blank">http://monarchwatch.org/blog/</a><br /><br />2) Journey North Begins! Thursday, February 5<br />Journey North begins in February when the monarchs are at their winter refuge deep in central Mexico. The monarch's unique winter habitat is found on only 12 mountaintops on the planet, and the monarch's story is one of nature's most incredible examples of adaptation and survival. In a unique partnership, you can join students and scientists across North America this spring to track the monarch butterfly's migration from Mexico. Sign up for email updates.<br /><a href="http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.learner.org/jnorth/monarch/index.html</a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-24474361943377703202009-01-05T19:30:00.000-08:002009-01-06T16:31:38.885-08:00Scouts build a wetland walkwayTroop 4 and Eagle Scout candidate Rob I. built a walkway in November 2008. Located in Ann Arbor's Mary Beth Doyle Park, the walkway protects native wetland plants in the former channel of Mallett's Creek.<br /><br />See Rob's photos on his page <a href="http://www.family4rs.com/">here.</a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-62950614216686330292009-01-01T16:50:00.000-08:002009-01-01T19:05:52.450-08:002009 - the year to honor connections2009 is the year to honor connections among the plants and wildlife in our schoolyards and our parks. Each place is threaded by relationships - butterflies feast on the nectar of wildflowers, birds eat seeds and spread them, and other organisms turn waste back into soil and nutrients.<br /><br />Among the humans who enjoy plants, birds, and insects, there are connections as well.<br /><br />For example, Audubon has a <a href="http://www.audubonathome.org/schoolyard/index.html">downloadable poster</a> (11x17) of a schoolyard alive with birds.<br /><br />The National Wildlife federation has a schoolyard habitat program with <a href="http://www.nwf.org/schoolyard/">many useful resources.</a> Their book <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="https://online.nwf.org/site/Ecommerce/?store_id=2001">Schoolyard Habitats: A How-to Guide for K-12 School Communities</a> is essential reading.<br /><br />Several projects at large and small schools have been supported by the Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education program. Read their success stories <a href="%28http://www.for-wild.org/download/sfesuccess/sfesuccess.html">here</a>.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-21809082616021679532008-12-04T21:17:00.000-08:002008-12-04T18:38:08.686-08:00schools and Monarch WaystationsNumerous Michigan schools have registered their butterfly gardens as <a href="http://www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/">Monarch Waystations</a>.<br /><br />As their website says "<span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica;font-size:85%;" >...we need to create, conserve, and protect milkweed/monarch habitats. We need you to help us and help monarchs by creating "Monarch Waystations" (monarch habitats) in home gardens, at schools, businesses, parks, zoos, nature centers, along roadsides, and on other unused plots of land. <span style="font-weight: bold;">... </span><b></b> By creating and maintaining a Monarch Waystation you are contributing to monarch conservation, an effort that will help assure the preservation of the species and the continuation of the spectacular monarch migration phenomenon.</span></span>"<br /><br />Some include:<br /><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">Evergreen Elementary Butterfly Garden</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Allendale</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">49401</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">Way Elementary School</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Bloomfield Hills</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">48302</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">West Shore-Torrey Hill Elementary</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Fenton</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">48430</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">Gilbey Elementary School</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Kalamazoo</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">49009</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">St. Joseph School</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Lake Orion</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">48362</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">Hugger Elementary Outdoor Classroom</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Rochester</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">48306</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">Presbyterian Camps Butterfly Garden</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Saugutuck</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">49453</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">Lakeshore High School</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Stevensville</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">49127</td> </tr></tbody></table><br /><table str="" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 445pt;" width="594" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><col style="width: 264pt;" width="352"><col style="width: 101pt;" width="135"><col style="width: 32pt;" width="43"><col style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><tbody><tr style="height: 12.75pt;" height="17"> <td style="height: 12.75pt; width: 264pt;" width="352" height="17">Fischer Elementary School</td> <td style="width: 101pt;" width="135">Taylor</td> <td style="width: 32pt;" width="43">MI</td> <td style="width: 48pt;" num="" width="64" align="right">48180</td> </tr></tbody></table><br />Let me know if your school, camp or other youth project is not listed.Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-76063106742296947962008-11-23T11:55:00.000-08:002008-11-23T12:02:30.357-08:00Great teachers - Burt BarnesBurt Barnes is truly a 'teacher of teachers.'<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBR2WH3g9ZuqD0tdc70hdzB-O9ivixP5omoLBlVLs-CehP6D4Tm0zIeNMk4s4UcCG4YxubMZBD-Kk4VOep4Ev0QRK-0Z98qbZjJhNxAlbX2c0lNiPng1Rp7hU3NHUECf9AKEwfaSJdXJV/s1600-h/PA140015.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBR2WH3g9ZuqD0tdc70hdzB-O9ivixP5omoLBlVLs-CehP6D4Tm0zIeNMk4s4UcCG4YxubMZBD-Kk4VOep4Ev0QRK-0Z98qbZjJhNxAlbX2c0lNiPng1Rp7hU3NHUECf9AKEwfaSJdXJV/s320/PA140015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271944881404376194" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These photos are from October 2006. Thanks to Toni H. for the photos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPTXm1L38iCCLSRTV7Uuzbng8_jtRCCO7f-VSJvfnZfsYlhpuZ3ZRd0FHNg0t3vPJ2TKXPeVvpG__uOg7R-pKo8jIPAFc_ipplQOY6n92wa60zGEcPx7N1BJJG6gr5FlgAZx7fGWWn0hG/s1600-h/PA140020.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrPTXm1L38iCCLSRTV7Uuzbng8_jtRCCO7f-VSJvfnZfsYlhpuZ3ZRd0FHNg0t3vPJ2TKXPeVvpG__uOg7R-pKo8jIPAFc_ipplQOY6n92wa60zGEcPx7N1BJJG6gr5FlgAZx7fGWWn0hG/s320/PA140020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271945217008734738" border="0" /></a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-58117667102584146492008-11-23T11:34:00.000-08:002008-11-23T11:42:54.615-08:00Great teacher - Dorothy BlanchardDorothy Blanchard of Ypsilanti has introduced thousands of kids to frogs, snakes, and other creatures of our Michigan woods and waters.<br /><br />These photos are from a worksho<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6q4kY5ZUo_2gcZDxJxcgAIFB5w1xQR9wb2hlB3emXQrNqNKWlyKQDzsvITmHlBHayDTtp0wSGvPiiDGLwX-0xTclGbrZruDsopTUhc4OS5CdFH0KAsUWYPHR0DeOmODCzvDvGMOG-LyV/s1600-h/dorothy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6q4kY5ZUo_2gcZDxJxcgAIFB5w1xQR9wb2hlB3emXQrNqNKWlyKQDzsvITmHlBHayDTtp0wSGvPiiDGLwX-0xTclGbrZruDsopTUhc4OS5CdFH0KAsUWYPHR0DeOmODCzvDvGMOG-LyV/s320/dorothy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271939652393122050" border="0" /></a>p in April, 2005.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiDsTms7UWq2AzHZXxmwM_0HncZmnHE83sBQPIhfAOC8Mav-7IJE16IsgCpBNteAByvoOd4BBVrgAPq5Altd9bUF8LczBv4W7K6kfTFA-njS1ri0McHLEZ6ZjVJFy3qHnbeEJCTlsRJlS/s1600-h/kids-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCiDsTms7UWq2AzHZXxmwM_0HncZmnHE83sBQPIhfAOC8Mav-7IJE16IsgCpBNteAByvoOd4BBVrgAPq5Altd9bUF8LczBv4W7K6kfTFA-njS1ri0McHLEZ6ZjVJFy3qHnbeEJCTlsRJlS/s320/kids-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271939942896298562" border="0" /></a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-81506942773110753402008-11-23T08:53:00.000-08:002008-11-23T09:12:18.359-08:00Morenci High School club boosts water qualityOn Earth Day, 2008, the Green Earth Club of Morenci High School (GECKOs) cleaned up a local stream and a park. They are part of Bean/Tiffin Watershed Coalition and live near Morenci, Michigan, on a tributary of the Maumee River.<br /><br />See their photos at<br /><br /><a href="http://www.beancreekwatershed.org/cleanup08.htm">http://www.beancreekwatershed.org/cleanup08.htm</a><br /><br />Some of these young people have been helping the creek since 2004. See their poetry and more photos at<br /><br /><a href="http://www.beancreekwatershed.org/morenci.htm">http://www.beancreekwatershed.org/morenci.htm</a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-84738647474226163652008-11-05T18:03:00.000-08:002009-01-01T18:46:53.477-08:00from Florida - a Middle School garden on YouTubeI've made an exception to our usual Michigan focus, to highlight a video of a butterfly garden at Lyons Creek Middle School, Coconut Creek (Broward County) Florida.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CTjQRQ8TKQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CTjQRQ8TKQ</a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-74511030879768157652008-10-20T21:25:00.000-07:002008-11-08T09:30:58.743-08:00butterfly garden at Burns Park Elementary SchoolParents and kids in the 'Penguin Club' have planted a butterfly garden next to the school building, in Ann Arbor, Michigan USA.<br /><br />They planted about 250 plugs in October 2008.<br /><br />See their photos at <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/burns-park-penguins-care-club/web/native-plant-gardening?hl=en">http://groups.google.com/group/burns-park-penguins-care-club/web/native-plant-gardening?hl=en</a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-81566775644969767272008-10-04T11:47:00.000-07:002008-11-08T09:58:12.192-08:00Kids gazebo at Mary McCann ParkAlong with nature trails and native plants, this park includes a gazebo-style Teaching Station where kids can listen and learn.<br /><br />It's located at Mary McCann Park, in York Township between Ann Arbor and Milan, MI.<br /><br /><a href="http://twp-york.org/about/parks">link here</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here is a photo of the Teaching Station, sans roof and bench boards. The octagonal base is roughly 21 feet across. Three ranks of tri-fold benches will face the open area. The two curving, 5' x 30' beds lie downslope to right and left at a distance of about 30 feet from the teaching station's perimeter<br /><br />.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZyOyshvZ6OGl2G6G0cwoLZzqG9g8bsbwkAPflcwXZ0YV-ZptArXDPhYTV4s9p1X_vrkCxjUbuvX_2RH_kEYK_ihcYeneWBrg-nLrhyphenhyphensQxQ6n4I0Ezkwlh3WZAoTMysAcB200cNUeRug8/s1600-h/TSfoundation2008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZyOyshvZ6OGl2G6G0cwoLZzqG9g8bsbwkAPflcwXZ0YV-ZptArXDPhYTV4s9p1X_vrkCxjUbuvX_2RH_kEYK_ihcYeneWBrg-nLrhyphenhyphensQxQ6n4I0Ezkwlh3WZAoTMysAcB200cNUeRug8/s320/TSfoundation2008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266347410245428194" border="0" /></a>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9008901800617559428.post-15717756103480608452008-07-29T16:52:00.000-07:002008-07-31T18:39:35.759-07:00STEPS for Kids at Pine Lake Village Co-opSteps For Kids is a small nonprofit organization whose goals are grade school educational support and environmental education. It is based in Ann Arbor on the grounds of Pine Lake Village Co-op, but all activities are open to friends and neighbors. We are all volunteers; we have no paid staff. <div class="EC_gmail_quote"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdgAGqzm7hVbRU4NXsafo8-R82vPjHTbybpAsXekeaTn7VblNhG8It002slTXaihbtdsapQXKe68wRfdm6PidND8gjP8nkDEHwq6BoYQTq7QpP73M2vyZMYaxBS1g89lvo7gne0ayEiPZ/s1600-h/STEPS-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfdgAGqzm7hVbRU4NXsafo8-R82vPjHTbybpAsXekeaTn7VblNhG8It002slTXaihbtdsapQXKe68wRfdm6PidND8gjP8nkDEHwq6BoYQTq7QpP73M2vyZMYaxBS1g89lvo7gne0ayEiPZ/s320/STEPS-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229355658575879394" border="0" /></a>These are pictures from late May, at which about 25 adults and children volunteered to pick up trash, plant native plants, and pull weeds around a freshwater pond. Everyone had a great time on a beautiful day with the rare opportunity to be inside the fence. Fishing for trash with little nets was the favorite activity of many kids. We've since had two more volunteer work days, and mid-summer pictures follow soon.</div> <div class="EC_gmail_quote"><br /></div><div class="EC_gmail_quote">Please visit <a href="http://www.stepsforkids.org/" target="_blank">www.stepsforkids.org</a> to see more of our activities, and to see how you can help us by donating gardening tools and supplies, your own time and skills, or much needed financial assistance.<br /><br />(photos and write-up from Steps for Kids volunteers.)<br /><br /><div class="EC_gmail_quote"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxxZKLT7NEMx6uVBC5lbbqLGirDti3f1eK0VERX7ET4cYB8SOPE5Bs_S4TgNPIksC6AcUF6pyPcaVuwunTJUEyHKjBjE3MAk90Ox6hi81Uc4QMaIVYd2gGy7nD2lSedbwwWt2vSOJg1rO/s1600-h/STEPS-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxxZKLT7NEMx6uVBC5lbbqLGirDti3f1eK0VERX7ET4cYB8SOPE5Bs_S4TgNPIksC6AcUF6pyPcaVuwunTJUEyHKjBjE3MAk90Ox6hi81Uc4QMaIVYd2gGy7nD2lSedbwwWt2vSOJg1rO/s320/STEPS-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229355662194836514" border="0" /></a></div><br /></div>Mark Charleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05950210558248070422noreply@blogger.com0