The Forest Oak MS 8th grade students in the Chesapeake Bay class researched information about riparian buffers using sites on the Internet. We found out that riparian buffers are trees adjacent to streams or other waterways. These buffers help to filter pollutants such as excessive nutrients and toxins. These students did their part to increase the riparian buffer for our stream by planting over 70 trees in November, 2000.
The 8th grade students who went to Fox Island learned about natural filters during the trip. They learned that trees are one of the four natural filters in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They did their part to help improve the health of the Bay by planting the trees on a hill to reduce run-off from the fertilized fields.
We successfully planted 75 trees in the field between the school and the stream near Midcounty Highway. The "Bay Classes" and the 8th graders who went to Fox Island did a great job! The Montgomery County Forestry Board, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, City of Gaithersburg, and Pepco donated about $1500 worth of trees, supplied the shovels, some of the digging, and a truckload of mulch. We supplied the "student power." We dug holes, set our trees, and mulched around the base of the trees. Now all we have to do is water them and provide a little TLC.
Special thanks to our volunteers from the Department of Natural Resources and the Forestry Board who helped us to plant the trees. Thanks to staff members Pam Kucsan, Laura Martin, Joyce McCowin, Tommy Sparacino, Jay Foster, and principal, John Burley for their organization and "muscle."
This site is created and maintained by Holly
Geddes.
Last updated on
March 9, 2003
Bay Studies Coordinator: Jay Foster
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