Help 75 Students Become Earth Keepers

Howdy!

This past spring, an aftercare counselor and I visited five different Durham middle schools on a mission to emphasize the importance of native species in ecosystems. For this semester, we guided middle schoolers in making a mini terrarium. If you are unfamiliar, a mini terrarium is a container (like a jar) with all the essential components for an ecosystem! The essential components we brought were soil, rocks, moss, and a jar. Students were able to plant chickweed seeds in their terrariums as well. 

Before we built our mini terrariums, we taught students about how native plant species provide native pollinators, such as hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and moths nectar and the ability to spread the pollen of the plants throughout. We also mentioned how they're a part of a balanced ecosystem where every species is equally as important as the next. The students designed and organized their own terrariums to look how they wanted. I was excited to see that at every location, every student was surprised that they were able to take their terrariums home. Taking home these terrariums allowed the kids to connect this nature experience with their lives at home, and watch the ecosystem within the little jar grow and develop into something new and exciting just like the ecosystem we all live in!

On some of the trips we brought one of PWC's ambassador box turtles and it was so very awesome to see the kids fill with joy around our ambassador animals! It always brings me joy to see wildlife and nature bringing kids so much excitement.

I think it is very important to advocate for children connecting with nature because whether we notice or not, these experiences are essential for their growth and health! We are appreciative of all those who have helped PWC with this mission.