Some Vernon students got down and dirty recently in an effort to restore the natural beauty to their school yard.
Grade 4 and 5 students at Okanagan Landing Elementary planted trees behind the school as part of a hillside restoration project Thursday, April 25.
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The project garnered support from the Toronto Dominion Environmental Fund, from which they received a $7,600 grant. Paired with other donations, including additional plants from the Okanagan Similkameen Stewardship Society, teacher Sheila Monroe said the students were able to plant more than 100 shrubs, grasses and other indigenous plants.
鈥淭he shrubs and plants are all indigenous plants to this area and that鈥檚 what鈥檚 on the hillside, plus indigenous grasses,鈥� said Monroe. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what we鈥檙e planting because that鈥檚 what the hillside would have been like 200 years ago.鈥�
Almost 30 students, as well as volunteers, spent about four hours on the hill behind the school in attempt to re-naturalize the grounds. Monroe said her goal was to teach the kids about various plants and their importance 鈥� especially pertinent following Earth Day, which took place three days prior.
鈥淭his is the kind of stewardship, that when we talk about climate change, these kids understand that what they鈥檙e doing is actually helping because this hillside will be less likely to slide, all of these plants will help keep the air clean in our area and it will help the pollinators and wildlife in our area,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what they鈥檙e coming away with 鈥� well, that and pride.鈥�
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