What great way to engage kids in the environment!
Ponds for Kids is a program that will allow you to add a pond
to your student's learning environment. There are many great
people involved in the Water Garden Hobby and want to share
their passion and enthusiasm with the up-coming hobbyists of
tomorrow. Ponds for Kids is simply a way to help schools or
other learning institutions find great contractors to help
them create a multidisciplinary learning environment. North
American Water Garden Society has created a binder that will
take you through the planning as well as offer Activities to
make your new pond a sustainable teaching tool. And after it's
all done the NAWGS website gives you a place to celebrate your
accomplishments in our PFK Portfolio! Go to www.nawgs.org & click on "Ponds for Kids" to
read more about this fantastic opportunity!
The Program
The Pond for Kids Program is designed to give children and
young adults a working appreciation for nature and ecology.
Additionally, other areas like art, creative writing, photography
and poetry can also be incorporated by respective teachers.
The opportunities are many and the ideas are limitless on
how a school can incorporate the Ponds for Kids program into
their curriculum.
How
Does Ponds for Kids Work?
Interested teachers
or schools need to contact WaterScape Designs
(see "Contact Us" page) to inquire about how your
school can apply to host a program at your school or community.
WaterScape Designs is usually willing to donate their time & equipment
while guiding the participating students in the construction
of a functioning pond ecosystem. What
Does the School Need to Do?
It is the schools, teachers
and/or students responsibility
to raise the funds to cover the cost of materials needed.
Whether through grants, fundraisers or asking sponsors,
there are many options available to help an interested
school pay
for the material expenses. Why
the Ponds for Kids Program ?
Today very few undisturbed
ecosystems exist in the world. Unfortunately,
the ones that are the least affected are those that are the
farthest away from us. In an effort to allow schools to show
children how a functioning aquatic ecosystem works, the North
American Water Garden Society (NAWGS) is coordinating a national
campaign to enable schools to construct their own pond ecosystem.
By installing a pond system that becomes self-sustaining
in a controlled environment, students can observe the ebb
and flow of nature happening before their eyes. Besides conducting
experiments on water quality, they can also observe the animals
that colonize the area on their own. Water is the source
of all life. A shallow two-foot deep pond, installed properly
will allow nature to flourish inside it year round. As the
ecosystem evolves, so will the educational opportunities.
Art students can have their own Monet garden to paint. A
school's own Walden pond will become a perfect setting for
poetry and creative writing. Horticulture students can have
a working classroom to observe their plants growth from season
to season & year to year. The Ponds for Kids program
has many benefits for the students, the school and the community! So what are you waiting for? Check out the Program and see
how you can make a Ponds for Kids Program happen at your school! |
