Carver's 2024-2025 EcoSchools Theme: Wildlife and Biodiversity

The Guardians of the Triangle is Carver Elementary’s student-led environmental leadership program, guiding our school through the EcoSchools Green Flag Certification process and the Georgia COOL Schoolyards initiative. This select group of students leads by example—fostering a culture of stewardship, spearheading real-world action projects, and engaging the whole school in sustainability practices. Meeting weekly during Camp Wildcat, our Guardians are passionate about building a healthier planet starting right here on our 50-acre campus.

Our 2024–25 initiatives include:

• Leading campus biodiversity research using iNaturalist
  
  

• Designing, restoring, and maintaining schoolyard habitats, including a ditch-to-wetland transformation, and pollinator zones.
  
  

• Monitoring crayfish populations through the Crayfish of Carver: Operation Population project, in collaboration with university researchers.
  
  

• Writing the school’s EcoCode, developing interpretive species field guides, and sharing our work at public events like Earth and Arts Night.

Our mission goes beyond beautifying our campus—we aim to make a lasting impact. Through these hands-on stewardship projects, students gain leadership experience, apply scientific methods, and tackle environmental challenges that affect our local community, such as flooding in the Ogeechee River Basin and declining native biodiversity. We believe that environmental education is most powerful when students are in the driver’s seat—asking questions, designing solutions, and sharing their stories.

To amplify our impact, the Guardians serve as ambassadors, presenting our work to visiting scientists, school leadership, and community partners. We document our learning and share it through student storytelling, schoolwide campaigns, and social media, advocating for sustainable change in Richmond Hill and beyond.

At Carver Elementary, our EcoSchools journey is led by a passionate, student-nominated team known as the Guardians of the Triangle. This diverse, multi-grade leadership group embodies the core principles of the EcoSchools Framework, including action competency, systems thinking, and place-based learning. Meeting weekly during our school-wide enrichment block, Camp Wildcat, the Guardians guide the school through the EcoSchools 7-Step Process, take ownership of our environmental Action Projects, and serve as visible ambassadors for sustainability throughout the school and wider community. The Guardians of the Triangle contribute 90 minutes per week to EcoSchool Action Project leadership. That's over 40 hours of leadership service towards our Green Flag certification application! 

Our Action Team includes students, educators, administrators, and engaged community partners such as Georgia Southern University, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Ogeechee River Keeper, and the Richmond Hill Garden Club. These members bring a wide range of expertise—from ecological monitoring to native plant restoration—working collaboratively to support biodiversity education and stewardship across our 50-acre outdoor campus.

The team’s vision is grounded in the belief that every student can be a changemaker. Through data collection, citizen science, and public outreach, the Guardians develop the skills to lead, reflect, and make decisions that impact both their local ecosystem and their school culture. This inclusive, student-centered approach ensures that environmental learning is not a separate initiative but a foundational part of who we are as a school.

To align with the EcoSchools Framework, we incorporated the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into our Team Goals and Vision. 

Leaders: Guardians of the Triangle/Camp Wildcat

Members: 675 4th and 5th grade students at Carver Elementary 

Adult Leaders: Kari Wilcher, Outdoor Education

                  Erica Smith, Carver School Counselor

                           Karen Smith, Carver School Principal

  Michael Smith, 5th Grade Teacher

                           Nicole McLeod, 4th Grade Teacher, Earth Day 

                           High School Student Intern

  Khristal Monroe, STEAM long-term substitute teacher

                           Paigia Powe, 4th Grade Teacher, Recycling

  Alexandria Fults, 4th Grade Teacher, Vermicomposting

Adult Volunteers: Marti Fults, Gloria Shearin, Richmond Hill Garden Club 

  Dalton Hemmings, ABAC/Georgia Southern Fish Biologist

  John Cassell, Teacher, Effingham College & Career Academy

Professional Support: Jessica T. R. Brown, P.E., Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant | Stormwater Specialist

                                          Reginald Tuner and Dr. Checo Colon-Gaud, Georgia Southern

The Georgia Southern Freshwater Ecology Lab

                                          Ellie Hanson, Georgia Department of Natural Resources

Georgia Department of Natural Resources

                Damon Mullis, Ogeechee River Keeper

Greg Rothman and Michael Kendrick, Wildlife Biologist, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Organizational Support: Georgia Southern, University of Georgia Marine Extension and Sea Grant, The Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, US Fish and Wildlife, Ogeechee RIver Keeper, Richmond Hill Garden Club, Coastal Wildscapes 

2024 FALL CAMP WILDCAT ROSTER

2025 SPRING GUARDIANS OF THE TRIANGLE

CAMP WILDCAT ROSTER

GUARDIAN PARENT LETTERS

Dear Parent and Guardian,

Congratulations! Your child was nominated to be inducted into the Guardians of the Triangle, a select leadership program at Dr. G.W. Carver Upper Elementary School. This program is designed to empower our students to become stewards of themselves, their community, and the environment and to cultivate a culture of stewardship within our school. The Guardians meet during Camp Wildcat, a connections class that meets from 8:45-9:20 each week.  

The Guardians program offers your child the opportunity to:

-Lead our school in the Georgia Council on Outdoor Learning “COOL” Schoolyards Program, a statewide conservation and stewardship competition that will earn us prizes for our Outdoor Education program

-Lead our school in a seven step process by completing 24 Projects earning us the National Wildlife Federation and Foundation for Environmental Education EcoSchools Green Flag Award, a prestigious international accreditation award 

- Represent our school at events and to distinguished visitors 

-Serve as a Student Liaison with our Outdoor Education program partners such as Georgia Southern, UGA, the Georgia Forestry Commission, and Department of Natural Resources 

- Participate in initiatives to achieve prestigious national recognition like earning a US Green Ribbon School nomination

- Lead by example in building positive school culture

- Engage in hands-on, student led projects on our 50+ acre campus, "The Triangle"

Students are nominated by teachers and administrators based on their leadership potential, commitment to school, and their enthusiasm for Outdoor Education. Guardians will receive special recognition and earn the National Green School Society’s Silver Leaf Award.

We believe this program will not only benefit your child's personal growth but also contribute significantly to our school community and the environment.

If you would like to be a Parent Volunteer for this program, please return the attached form.  

Sincerely,

Karen Smith, Principal

Kari Wilcher, Outdoor Educator, kwilcher@bryan.k12.ga.us

         Eco-Schools: https://www.nwf.org/Eco-Schools-US
          COOL Schoolyard: https://www.eealliance.org/cool-schoolyards-program-overview.html

CARVER ELEMENTARY OUTDOOR EDUCATION

PARENT VOLUNTEER INTEREST 

I would like to serve as a parent volunteer for Guardians of the Triangle, Camp Wildcat, and Carver’s Outdoor Education program. I will complete volunteer training and I can help with: 

▢ Assist with school gardens, weekly watering of plants, landscaping, habitat maintenance, habitat creation, and habitat restoration 

▢ Removing invasive species such as cattail, bladderwort, Chinese Tallow

▢ Help with “Crayfish of Carver: Operation Population,” a joint research project with Georgia Southern, SC Department of Natural Resources, and Georgia Department of Natural Resources 

▢ Work with students on identifying and documenting species on campus

▢ Work with students on habitat assessment in the wetland, forest, or ditch

▢ Researching or writing funding and grant applications 

▢ Helping with outdoor equipment donation drives

▢ Delivering workshops to classes, teaching a skill, sharing your profession or hobby with students, show and tell with a class, teaching about a species or topic 

▢ Mentoring students as a positive buddy

▢ Sharing information and news with the community 

▢ Help coordinate and plan one of the 24 Action Plan projects 

▢ Work with community partners, establish opportunities for students, create projects and collaborations that focus on stewardship and conservation 

▢ Lead students in field investigations, small group projects, outdoor recreation, survival skills, team building, camp crafts

▢ Donate materials to the Outdoor Education program such as old camping chairs, tents, outdoor recreation equipment, field guides and nature books, garden tools, etc. 

CHILDS NAME: _________________

TEACHER:  _______________________________________________

PARENT NAME: ___________________________________________

PARENT PHONE:__________________________________________

PARENT EMAIL: ___________________________________________

What is your availability for volunteering? 

Questions? Kari Wilcher: kwilcher@bryan.k12.ga.us   

Media Release Parent Letter

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The National Wildlife Federation’s EcoSchools Green Flag Certification is the highest level of recognition for a school’s sustained commitment to environmental education and sustainability. Achieving Green Flag status not only validates a school’s efforts on a national and international stage, but also fosters deeper community partnerships, enhances curriculum integration, and empowers students with real‐world leadership skills. Through rigorous documentation and evaluation, EcoSchools Green Flag Certification drives continuous improvement, ensuring that environmental stewardship becomes an enduring part of school culture.

Now, we will be sharing images and clips of Carver students completing projects in Outdoor Education as part of our application for the National Wildlife Federation’s EcoSchools Green Flag Certification. Your students’ work and voices will appear in our submission, demonstrating Carver’s commitment to environmental stewardship. We plan to submit our portfolio to NWF on June 6th, and we are excited to showcase the positive impact these experiences have had on every 4th and 5th grader.

Please return the signed NWF Youth Media Release form by MAY 16 so we can include your child’s participation in our application materials. If you have any questions or concerns, or prefer your child not be featured, feel free to contact me at kwilcher@bryan.k12.ga.us.

Thank you for supporting our students in this celebration of their work—and for helping Carver Elementary take this important next step toward Green Flag status!

Warmly,

Kari Wilcher
Outdoor Educator, Carver Elementary
kwilcher@bryan.k12.ga.us 

GUARDIAN STUDENT LETTER

Congratulations! You have been nominated to become a Guardian of the Triangle. This is a special opportunity for you to become a leader in our school and help take care of our school. Guardians meet during Camp Wildcat Connection time. You are part of a team and represent your class. Being nominated means you are doing a great job and we believe in you! 

As a Guardian, you will:

- Wear a special badge to show you're part of the team

- Have a special folder and have meetings to plan projects with your team

- Sign a promise to show you are committed to your responsibility 

- Help take care of our school's outdoor areas and hallways

- Encourage your classmates with friendship and a positive attitude 

- Meet important visitors and tell them about our school

- Learn about nature and teach other students what you learn

- Guardians will lead our school in completing 24 projects to earn the National Wildlife Federation Eco-Schools Green Flag Award. 

Being a Guardian means you're setting an example for other students. You'll be showing everyone how to take care of yourself, our school community, and the Earth.

As a Guardian, you will meet during Camp Wildcat and will work on projects with your team. 

We're excited to see what you can do as a Guardian of the Triangle!

Congratulations,

Ms. Kari Wilcher

Outdoor Educator, Dr. G.W. Carver Upper Elementary School

P.S. I’m really, really proud of you!  Keep up the great work, Wildcat! 

GUARDIAN STUDENT PROMISE

As a Guardian of the Triangle, I promise to:

1. Be a Leader:

   • Stay positive

   • Help my friends

   • Support my team

   • Follow our school rules (PAWS)

2. Care for Our World:

   • Join in our activities

   • Take care of myself, my school, my community, and nature

   • Teach others how to be a steward

3. Be Responsible:

   • Follow safety rules

   • Respect animals and plants

   • Use school supplies properly

4. Keep Learning:

   • Join in class and activities

   • Learn about nature and animals

   • Share what I learn with others

5. Get Involved:

   • Help at school and community events

   • Encourage family and friends to take care of the Earth

   • Work with classmates on projects

6. Be Honest:

   • Always tell the truth

   • Take responsibility for my actions

   • Show our school values every day

By signing this promise, I agree to be a great Guardian of the Triangle!

Student Signature: _________________________        Date: _____________

GUARDIAN PROMISE

The Guardians of the Triangle embody every pillar of the EcoSchools Framework. Through place-based learning, they conduct field research—sampling water, monitoring wildlife, and restoring habitats—directly on Carver’s 50-acre campus. By applying systems thinking, they connect changes in water quality, vegetation, and species counts to understand ecosystem health holistically. Their action competency shines as they design protocols, lead peer trainings, and translate data into tangible conservation projects. Embracing community as classroom, Guardians partner with local experts—from the Ogeechee Riverkeeper to Georgia DNR—to bring professional knowledge into student-led investigations. Commitments to equity and inclusion ensure that all voices are heard—students mentor peers of varied abilities and share findings in multiple languages—so that every learner can contribute to and benefit from Carver’s environmental stewardship.

Guardians of the Triangle reflect on their year with genuine pride and a newfound sense of purpose. Many describe feeling empowered as they led habitat restorations, collected biodiversity data, and guided peers through citizen-science projects—activities that deepened their connection to Carver’s ecosystems and the wider community. They speak of excitement when sharing findings with scientists and of satisfaction knowing their efforts directly improved water quality and wildlife habitat. For several, acting as a Guardian sparked confidence in their ability to make real change; one student noted, “I never thought kids could find so many species at school.” Across the board, reflections highlight camaraderie, growing environmental responsibility, and a belief that their voices truly matter in shaping Carver’s sustainable future.

“Helping nature is a big dream come true,” Collette O.
“I love..how we got to look at all different things in nature,” Aurelia B.
“...we get to protect animals and put them in a safe habitat” -Anthony D.
“...at the start of the year, nobody really cared...but we made an entire ecosystem. It’s something to be proud of. ” -Logan F.
“I’m an inside person. I don’t really like the outside but all of our projects has made me enjoy the outside more. ” -Case 

Carver’s student leadership team, The Guardians, played a central role in advancing the school’s EcoSchools Green Flag certification by modeling environmental stewardship, facilitating peer education, and leading action-based conservation projects. Their work aligned with the NWF EcoSchools Framework, particularly under the Curriculum, Community and Leadership, and Wildlife and Biodiversity pathways. Guardians conducted biodiversity surveys, organized audits, and mentored peers during outdoor investigations, demonstrating student agency, cross-curricular integration, and place-based learning—core principles of both the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Guidelines for Excellence and Georgia’s Excellence in Environmental Education Best Practices. Through consistent engagement in fieldwork, journaling, project planning, and public presentations, Guardians embodied 21st-century competencies such as collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and civic responsibility. Their leadership ensured the entire school community was involved in meaningful environmental learning and action, setting a standard for student-led transformation.

Looking ahead to Year 2, the Guardians of the Triangle will build on their successes by expanding student-led projects and deepening community partnerships. They plan to refine data‐collection protocols—adding nighttime surveys for nocturnal species—and pilot a digital dashboard of species and habtiats on campus so every Guardian can track biodiversity and water‐quality trends in real time. Habitat restorations will grow to include a new pollinator corridor connecting our rain garden to the bioswale, while compost and vermicompost operations will scale to serve all grade levels. Guardians will also mentor a “Green Ambassador” cohort of 3rd graders, ensuring leadership continuity. Collaborating further with the Richmond Hill Garden Club, UGA Marine Extension and Sea Grant, Carver families, and the Ogeechee Riverkeeper, they aim to formalize an ADA‐accessible nature trail with interpretive stations, making our outdoor classroom truly inclusive. Finally, Year 2 will feature a schoolwide Earth and Arts Night—showcasing student research posters, digital field guides, and live demonstrations—to celebrate progress and inspire the entire Carver community toward our next Green Flag milestones.