Grades 5/6: Service Council Advises Canal Conservancy

Members of the 5/6 Service Council and their advisor, Mrs. Christi James, traveled off campus this week to give a presentation to the Highline Canal Conservancy as part of the council’s yearlong objective to improve the environment. According to member Celia McCarty (5), the council elected to partner with the Conservancy because students wanted opportunities to work hands-on in the community.

 

On Tuesday, they met with Conservancy staff who are dedicated to preserving, protecting and enhancing the 71-mile Canal in partnership with the public. They reported their findings from a cleanup day during which they worked a section of the canal near the Fairmount Cemetery in April. As part of a pilot “ambassador” program, they acted as the Conservancy’s “eyes and ears” with three goals: clean up trash, document both waste and wildlife, and note trail usage. 

 

They reported finding 23 types of trash in various quantities. Notably, they picked up 48 plastic bags, 32 cigarette butts and 21 food wrappers. As for wildlife, Conservancy staff were delighted to hear there were 42 bird nests spotted as well as butterflies, bees and assorted bugs. Trail usage was another important piece of data collected. Students discovered the canal trail was used primarily by bikers (65.2%) followed by walkers (15.2%), runners (12.1%) and finally dog walkers (7.6%). They hypothesized that the low number of dogs was due to this portion of the canal’s distance from the closest neighborhood.

 

Next, students presented their recommendations based on the data collected and the conditions observed. These included installing cigarette butt receptacles, additional trash cans with lids to keep wildlife out and more benches, as well as planting more plants and flowers to attract birds and pollinators. Finally, they advised the Conservancy to schedule more cleanup days on the canal.

 

Harriet Crittenden LaMair, executive director, commented that the data collected by Graland students is extremely helpful as they continue expanding the ambassador program and collecting comparative data. 

 

Before leaving the meeting, students shared that they will donate proceeds from a snack sale to the conservancy, funds which they hope will be used to provide trash bags, gloves and other tools for future cleanup day volunteers. Community Outreach Coordinator, Michelle Freeman, commended the students for their dedication to “making an impact on the community and the environment.” 

 

In giving kudos to students following the presentation, Mrs. James congratulated them for their poise in giving a “sticky experience” – one which will stay with the Conservancy staff long after the meeting ended.

 

Throughout the year, the 5/6 Service Council has also worked to educate middle schoolers about correct trash sorting. Efforts include sponsoring a coding challenge to create an educational game about trash sorting and presentations to their peers in the middle school.