The following information and photos on this page tells the ongoing story of the creation and development of the Blanchard Community Forest.  As you look through this section, you will see photos from  before, during and soon after the forest restoration project began.

November 2021 = The site, post-construction of the new MS and HS Science buildings:  This is what the site looked like when we made a proposal to use it for creating the ISK Community Forest, later renamed The Blanchard Community Forest:

Photo Below: 

First Photo = Looking West from trail below HS entrance; 

Second Photo = Looking down to outdoor classroom area from top of current waterfall; 

Third Photo = Looking East from corner of ES parking lot towards outdoor classroom area

November 2021 - Let the forest restoration begin:  HS Environmental Science along with students in Grade 8 Science as well as some Grade 5 volunteers completed the initial tree planting on multiple planting events both during and after school.  Check out this instructional video outlining the steps for planting trees and shrubs (made by HS Environmental Science students).

Photo Below:  Notice weeds coming up from compost used in planting mix just a few months later in the Spring of 2022.   Sterile compost would be preferred or weed block fabric or cardboard covered in leaf litter can be used to prevent this.

Photo below: looking from near where the stream biofalls is now towards Kirawa Road just outside the exit gate.  Notice the bare red clay soil that was later covered with a thick layer of leaf litter to protect the soil from erosion, add soil nutrients and wildlife habitat as well as to retain moisture in the soil throughout the year, but most importantly during the dry seasons.