Sprouts Programs Gets Rooted in Schools
This Spring our Sprouts Program, which focuses on environmental education, engagement, and awareness, began working with kids in a school setting for the first time. After building a garden space at Cranbrook Elementary, both second grade classrooms have been engaging with and in the new learning garden space during our 8-week program. At Imagine Columbus Primary School, first grade classrooms have had a similar opportunity during school with programming taking place in the school’s already established garden, while third, fourth, and fifth graders have participated in Sprouts during our after-school program.
Throughout our time together kids explore their senses in the garden while recording their discoveries in their garden notebooks, in addition to physically working with soil, seeds and plants to be part of the food growing process.
Pathways Park Development Progresses
In partnership with Friends of Alum Creek and Tributaries (FACT) we successfully completed the first phase of our three-phase project to bring tree canopy to the Alum Creek Trail within Pathways Park. This saw the planting of 60 trees along the trail, with phase two to be completed this Fall - bringing another 60 trees to the trails edge. Once complete, the trail will be lined with 160 trees providing shade and habitable microclimates for both trail and park patrons.
Throughout the park we will begin to notice a change in vegetation appearance and purpose this year. As we convert our existing no mow zones of regular playing turf grass to wildflower and meadow vegetation, we will see a healthier and more cohesive landscape take shape. The landscape itself will also offer more colorful and aesthetically appeasing spaces as our first acre of seeds get planted this month.