Students from Brookland MS have designed and installed a Rain Garden on their campus. The Rain Garden will work to filter and slow the runoff before it enters the storm drain. Brookland is also installing Rain Barrels that have been designed and decorated by their 6th grade class. Students created and put up posters to help bring awareness around campus about the Chesapeake Bay.

Moody MS students investigated their school campus and discovered that they had a problem with erosion and runoff. The 6th grade students decided that the area of the school needing the most improvement in order to help improve erosion and runoff would be the bus ramp. Working with gardeners from Cross Creek Nursery, students planted several different species of trees, shrubs, and ground cover plants to help slow down soil erosion on the steep bus ramp. Students also mulched the entire ground cover area. Check out the great google slide presentation below to see their complete transformation!

Pocahontas MS students found that their campus had issues with both erosion and litter. To help improve their watershed they decided to take action! They cleared an area that had grass and bare soil and installed conservation landscaping. They planted hundreds of bulbs that will be enjoyed next spring and for years to come! They added a thick layer of mulch along with edging to help slow the runoff and allow the runoff to infiltrate into the ground instead of going straight into a storm drain. The students walked all around campus picking up litter. In addition to helping to improve the quality of their watershed, the students also connected with the outdoors and beautified their campus!

Holman MS students took a look around campus and their own homes and realized that they had a problem with litter. Students researched the different types of litter and conducted a recycling audit of their own homes. Students did trash pick ups and tested the water quality of the Chickahominy River and their on campus retention pond. The school had a community night where a film on microplastics was viewed to help bring community awareness. Students continually went outside to explore and connect with nature. One way that they connected was using items found in nature to create their own art! Virtual students were also involved by executing the recycling audit in their own homes and collecting litter. The schoolground examination was also broadcasted live to the virtual students. Holman MS students made a difference by taking action!

Quioccasin MS students realized that their campus had a serious problem with puddles, #puddleproblem. They learned that the water running off of the school grounds and parking lot was too large for the limited amount of pervious surface available. In response to this problem and the associated erosion that it caused, the middle school 6th grade students took action! They removed an area of soil and grass and installed a conservation garden. The garden is labeled with student created tags so that everyone will be able to identify the species planted. The garden helps to slow and filter runoff so that the water leaving campus is healthy for the James River and Chesapeake Bay.

Fairfield MS students were concerned with water conservation on campus. The students will install rain barrels and planted a rain garden to help conserve water. The area where the rain garden is planted will also help an erosion problem. The mulch and plants will help to slow runoff and purify the water before it leaves campus and heads to the Chesapeake Bay. Fairfield students are helping to make a difference by reducing the amount of water they use on campus!

Tuckahoe MS students examined their campus and decided that they found a problem with erosion from their baseball field. They researched and determined plants to install to help reduce erosion and created a conservation garden. Virtual students were able to participate by live streaming the installation of the conservation garden and were given the opportunity to pick up the wildflower seed packets to plant at their home in a location that will benefit the environment. Tuckahoe MS students took action and helped to reduce the levels of sedimentation and increase food sources for native pollinators! The students look forward to watching the garden grow as they complete their remaining years in middle school.

Wilder MS students found that their campus had an erosion problem near their bus loop. To help reduce erosion and reduce runoff, the students decided to plant native plants to help reduce the runoff. Students planted autumn ferns, purple cone flowers, and daisies. Students look forward to enjoying the pollinators that their conservation garden will attract.

Hungary Creek MS students completed the schoolyard report card and found that their biggest problem was erosion. The students then researched Virginia Native Plants to find which plants would work best to reduce erosion. Then the students located the best areas to plant. Each science class went out to the site, discussed each plant, prepared the ground, and planted the native plants.

Virtual learners participated by picking up biodegradable pots, soil, and pollinator seeds (milkweed and black eyed susan) from campus pick up locations. The students planted the seeds and when the plant was mature, the students then installed the plant in an outdoor space near their homes.

After surveying their school campus and grounds, John Rolfe MS students realized that their campus was doing nothing to reuse on campus. They also found that there was a lot of litter on a nearby road. They had a serious recycling and litter problem. Students decided to take action and implemented a litter and recycling initiative! In person students did a trash pick up on the nearby road and installed recycling containers throughout their school. Virtual students connected by picking up litter at an outdoor space near their homes and became more aware of what they could recycle. By properly disposing of waste materials and recycling, John Rolfe students are helping to keep the James River and Chesapeake Bay Watersheds healthy!

Short Pump MS students worked to improve the riparian buffer between their campus and Allen's Branch. With help from the campus C&M, the area was cleared of poison ivy and areas were leveled for terraced seating. These areas will be used for an outdoor classroom space in years to come. This will allow for students to gain access to Allen's Branch, so that they can safely monitor the water quality by performing dipnetting for benthic macroinvertebrates and chemical water quality testing. To help increase plants and slow erosion in the area, native species were selected and installed. In the next few weeks students will add perennial wildflowers. Short Pump MS students took action and helped to improve the riparian buffer while also adding improvements so that they can use the area for an outdoor classroom!

Elko MS students decided that they wanted to see more native bird species on campus and continue to reduce erosion on their bus loop. They installed bird feeders and a bird bath to help encourage native species to come to campus. They also built and installed benches so that the area can be used by classes to enjoy and connect with the outdoors. The students will add native shrubs and plants to their bus loop to continue to improve their conservation garden. Students took action and not only helped to improve their watershed, but they also created an outdoor area for classes to use regularly!

In Spring of 2020, schools were forced to close due to the Covid 19 Pandemic. This caused traditional on campus action projects to be postponed or cancelled. In response to the closure, over 470 students accepted the HCPS Watershed Challenge, got outside, and made a positive action to improve their local watershed! Visit VPM Science Matters to read more about the Watershed Challenge.

Students at John Rolfe MS have been busy designing and painting rain barrels - two for their school and one for Baker Elementary! After taking walks around the school property, students saw that they could definitely reduce their environmental footprint, and what better way than through rain barrels?

Water from the rain barrels will be used in their newly constructed, raised bed garden (another great green initiative!). Students created their own designs, which were voted on by the student body, then painted during art class.

History classes talked about clean water and even built their own water filters!

A small group of talented students are working hard to create a video documenting the whole process, including creating their own stop motion and animation.

Students at Hungary Creek MS adopted the creek in front of their school, working hard to get the word out to the community about how to be stewards of our environment.

Their efforts culminated in a presentation at Innovation Night, where the community was able to come and learn about water quality, the history of the area, and their impact on the environment.

Students made buttons to sell (all proceeds to Maymont!), presented historical maps of the James, showed off their PSAs, and helped visitors test the water from their creek.

Check out their website and follow them on Instagram

Students at Elko MS noticed that their bus loop was looking a little brown, so they decided to do something about it! They are installing conservation landscaping by amending the soil and planting native plants to reduce their carbon footprint. Students broke out into advisory teams, who are each working hard to do their part.

The Landscaping Team designed and chose plants for their conservation garden. The Budget Team is using their math skills to ensure they're staying within their $500 allowance. Social Media Team is blogging the whole process

After taking walks with their science classes, students from Short Pump MS decided to adopt Allen's Branch Creek, which runs directly behind their school. After seeing the degradation of the stream, the effects of stormwater outflow, and erosion, students knew they had to do something!

They'll be monitoring water quality, planting native species, and creating PSAs to inform their community. During Henrico's STEAM Symposium, students were given the opportunity to present PowerPoint presentations showing what they saw during their walk and showcasing their knowledge about watersheds! Watershed artwork was also on display.