Community Partners are Active at Riderwood
Riderwood has enjoyed a close partnership with Green Center Cromwell Valley Park (CVP). A Riderwood parent, Anne Wedgeworth, is a part-time Master Naturalist at the park, and has facilitated the Green School application process and various programs provided at Riderwood by CVP staff. In addition, Riderwood is proud of the many other partnerships it has formed which are summarized below and followed by more detailed descriptions:
Riderwood has enjoyed a close partnership with Green Center Cromwell Valley Park (CVP). A Riderwood parent, Anne Wedgeworth, is a part-time Master Naturalist at the park, and has facilitated the Green School application process and various programs provided at Riderwood by CVP staff. In addition, Riderwood is proud of the many other partnerships it has formed which are summarized below and followed by more detailed descriptions:
- Cromwell Valley Park (CVP)
-- Faculty training and project supports
-- Habitat restoration advice
-- Monarch rescue advice
-- Bee keeper demonstration
-- Beaver program for Riderwood Girl Scout troops
-- Slate garden markers
-- Family Fit Night activity
- Home Depot -- $100 donation for split rails
- Lowes -- boxes for terracycle shipments
- American Native Plants -- plant donations
- Sun Nurseries -- plant donations
- Perennial Farm -- plant donations
- Girl Scouts -- stepping stones, habitat clean-up, gardening
- PTA -- organizational support and funding
- Teachers and Parents
-- Donated soaker hose
-- Donated rain barrel
-- Hours and hours of labor!
CVP -- "Blubber Glove" demonstration
Date: December 2012
Anne Wedgeworth, CVP staff, reached out to the Riderwood kindergarten teachers to suggest an interactive demonstration to supplement their unit on Animals in Winter. The "Blubber Glove" experiment teaches the students how the 4-inch layer of blubber under the skin of polar bears and walruses protects them from the frigid Arctic waters as they search for food. First, the students experienced how cold the ice water is on their bare hands. Then, they tested their hands in the same water, but used a protective glove filled with four inches of "blubber" (Crisco). The children then discussed how the blubber can help arctic mammals stay in the water longer to catch their prey.
Anne worked in small groups and every kindergartener had the chance to experience Blubber Glove during the course of the afternoon. That's 78 children!
Date: December 2012
Anne Wedgeworth, CVP staff, reached out to the Riderwood kindergarten teachers to suggest an interactive demonstration to supplement their unit on Animals in Winter. The "Blubber Glove" experiment teaches the students how the 4-inch layer of blubber under the skin of polar bears and walruses protects them from the frigid Arctic waters as they search for food. First, the students experienced how cold the ice water is on their bare hands. Then, they tested their hands in the same water, but used a protective glove filled with four inches of "blubber" (Crisco). The children then discussed how the blubber can help arctic mammals stay in the water longer to catch their prey.
Anne worked in small groups and every kindergartener had the chance to experience Blubber Glove during the course of the afternoon. That's 78 children!
CVP -- Faculty Training and Project Supports
Date: December 2012, November 2013
As detailed in Professional Development and Environmental Issue Instruction, CVP was instrumental in helping the Riderwood kindergarten teachers present an interactive, fun, hands-on lesson on black bears. CVP staff trained the teachers on the Growing Up Wild curriculum, and loaned the school a bear hide, skull, laminated food cards, and vinyl bear tracks. They also donated the Growing Up Wild book to the school. In addition, CVP staff provided training to 1st grade teachers on leaf and tree identification.
Date: December 2012, November 2013
As detailed in Professional Development and Environmental Issue Instruction, CVP was instrumental in helping the Riderwood kindergarten teachers present an interactive, fun, hands-on lesson on black bears. CVP staff trained the teachers on the Growing Up Wild curriculum, and loaned the school a bear hide, skull, laminated food cards, and vinyl bear tracks. They also donated the Growing Up Wild book to the school. In addition, CVP staff provided training to 1st grade teachers on leaf and tree identification.
CVP -- Habitat Restoration Advice
Date: August 2012 and ongoing
As Riderwood's Green Team formed its plan to restore the schoolyard habitat, they needed to identify all the overgrown trees, shrubs and vines to determine which should be kept and which should be removed. Justine Schaeffer, naturalist at CVP, agreed to tour the habitat and offer her expert advice. She identified and recommended the removal of two invasives -- oriental bittersweet vines and multi-flora rose -- and identified six native trees in and around the habitat that should be preserved. She also suggested that the Green Team take advantage of a depressed area of the habitat that tends to stay damp and plant a habitat for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, in addition to the plans to add a monarch waystation.
Click here for follow-up email from Justine identifying trees:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/justine_tree_id
Date: August 2012 and ongoing
As Riderwood's Green Team formed its plan to restore the schoolyard habitat, they needed to identify all the overgrown trees, shrubs and vines to determine which should be kept and which should be removed. Justine Schaeffer, naturalist at CVP, agreed to tour the habitat and offer her expert advice. She identified and recommended the removal of two invasives -- oriental bittersweet vines and multi-flora rose -- and identified six native trees in and around the habitat that should be preserved. She also suggested that the Green Team take advantage of a depressed area of the habitat that tends to stay damp and plant a habitat for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, in addition to the plans to add a monarch waystation.
Click here for follow-up email from Justine identifying trees:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/justine_tree_id
CVP -- Monarch Rescue Advice
Date: September 2012
As mentioned in Environmental Issue Instruction, CVP conducted a monarch tagging demonstration for Riderwood 1st graders in October 2012. Prior to the program, CVP provided a regular supply of common milkweed for the voracious caterpillars, as well as emergency rescue advice when two of the caterpillars escaped and formed their chrysalises under the students' desks! Through emails, Justine Schaeffer from CVP instructed Mrs. Mays how to safely remove the attached chrysalises and transfer them back into the enclosed habitat without harming the developing butterflies inside.
Here's the email with the rescue instructions:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/monarch_rescue
The stunning rescue was captured in the pictures below :)
Date: September 2012
As mentioned in Environmental Issue Instruction, CVP conducted a monarch tagging demonstration for Riderwood 1st graders in October 2012. Prior to the program, CVP provided a regular supply of common milkweed for the voracious caterpillars, as well as emergency rescue advice when two of the caterpillars escaped and formed their chrysalises under the students' desks! Through emails, Justine Schaeffer from CVP instructed Mrs. Mays how to safely remove the attached chrysalises and transfer them back into the enclosed habitat without harming the developing butterflies inside.
Here's the email with the rescue instructions:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/monarch_rescue
The stunning rescue was captured in the pictures below :)
CVP -- Bee Keeper Demonstration
Date: February 2014
See Environmental Issue Instruction for detailed description of bee keeper demonstration to 2nd grade classes by Gina Dotterweich, CVP.
Date: February 2014
See Environmental Issue Instruction for detailed description of bee keeper demonstration to 2nd grade classes by Gina Dotterweich, CVP.
CVP -- Beaver Program for Riderwood Girl Scout Troops
Dates: March-April 2013
When it became apparent that CVP had a beaver on the premises during the winter of 2012-13, staff members Maureen Larkin and Anne Wedgeworth offered to share the drama and intrigue of the elusive Castor Canadensis with Riderwood. Since the school's field trips were already scheduled for the year and a trip to see the beaver dam and lodge wouldn't fit into any grade's schedule, Riderwood's Girl Scout troops were a better target audience.
Maureen and Anne developed a lesson plan which included a discussion of the beaver as a keystone species which changes its environment thus affecting what other species can live around it, the rise and fall (and rise again) of the beaver population in the U.S., and the beaver's diet, family life and special adaptations.
The highlights of the program were a hilarious dress-up game to simulate the beaver's physical adaptations and, of course, the hike to Minebank Run to find the signs of beaver activity.
Click here for email invitation to Riderwood Girl Scout Troops.
Six programs were presented (March 3, 7, 18, 25, and April 16 and 24, 2013) for a total of approximately 80 Girl Scouts.
Dates: March-April 2013
When it became apparent that CVP had a beaver on the premises during the winter of 2012-13, staff members Maureen Larkin and Anne Wedgeworth offered to share the drama and intrigue of the elusive Castor Canadensis with Riderwood. Since the school's field trips were already scheduled for the year and a trip to see the beaver dam and lodge wouldn't fit into any grade's schedule, Riderwood's Girl Scout troops were a better target audience.
Maureen and Anne developed a lesson plan which included a discussion of the beaver as a keystone species which changes its environment thus affecting what other species can live around it, the rise and fall (and rise again) of the beaver population in the U.S., and the beaver's diet, family life and special adaptations.
The highlights of the program were a hilarious dress-up game to simulate the beaver's physical adaptations and, of course, the hike to Minebank Run to find the signs of beaver activity.
Click here for email invitation to Riderwood Girl Scout Troops.
Six programs were presented (March 3, 7, 18, 25, and April 16 and 24, 2013) for a total of approximately 80 Girl Scouts.
CVP -- Slate Garden Markers
Date: Spring 2013 and ongoing as needed
CVP naturalist Maureen Larkin donated her time and talent to make garden markers for Riderwood's new Monarch Waystation and Baltimore Checkerspot Habitat. She painted and shellacked pieces of slate to label the host plants and nectar plants. The signs are very helpful to students as they learn about the particular host and nectar plants enjoyed by our native caterpillars and butterflies. (See Structures for Environmental Learning.)
Date: Spring 2013 and ongoing as needed
CVP naturalist Maureen Larkin donated her time and talent to make garden markers for Riderwood's new Monarch Waystation and Baltimore Checkerspot Habitat. She painted and shellacked pieces of slate to label the host plants and nectar plants. The signs are very helpful to students as they learn about the particular host and nectar plants enjoyed by our native caterpillars and butterflies. (See Structures for Environmental Learning.)
CVP -- Family Fit Night Activity
Date: November 2013
Hosted by Riderwood's Health and Wellness Committee, Family Fit Night was a fun evening of family activities to promote healthy eating and exercise. Participants played games to learn about "My Plate" food portion guidelines, learned how to zumba and hip hop, stretched their muscles with yoga poses, and munched on samples of fresh apples and veggies. Community groups and businesses, including CVP, set up display tables. CVP staff member and Riderwood parent Anne Wedgeworth encouraged children to design their own "Garden Bracelets" using beads representing the essential elements of a healthy garden (soil, water, air, and sunshine) and a rainbow of all the colorful fruits and vegetables they could grow and eat.
Date: November 2013
Hosted by Riderwood's Health and Wellness Committee, Family Fit Night was a fun evening of family activities to promote healthy eating and exercise. Participants played games to learn about "My Plate" food portion guidelines, learned how to zumba and hip hop, stretched their muscles with yoga poses, and munched on samples of fresh apples and veggies. Community groups and businesses, including CVP, set up display tables. CVP staff member and Riderwood parent Anne Wedgeworth encouraged children to design their own "Garden Bracelets" using beads representing the essential elements of a healthy garden (soil, water, air, and sunshine) and a rainbow of all the colorful fruits and vegetables they could grow and eat.
Home Depot -- $100 Donation for Split Rails
Date: Spring 2013
The generous manager of the Home Depot in Cockeysville donated $100 in gift cards to the Green Team. We used them to purchase some of the split rails around the schoolyard habitat.
Date: Spring 2013
The generous manager of the Home Depot in Cockeysville donated $100 in gift cards to the Green Team. We used them to purchase some of the split rails around the schoolyard habitat.
Lowes -- Boxes for Terracycle Shipments
Date: Fall 2012
The helpful staff of Lowes in Parkville saved HUGE cardboard boxes for Riderwood to use for shipping our terracycle collections. The larger the shipment, the more money we earn per chip bag or juice pouch, so we really appreciated Lowes' assistance in helping us earn more money for our charities.
Date: Fall 2012
The helpful staff of Lowes in Parkville saved HUGE cardboard boxes for Riderwood to use for shipping our terracycle collections. The larger the shipment, the more money we earn per chip bag or juice pouch, so we really appreciated Lowes' assistance in helping us earn more money for our charities.
American Native Plants -- Plant Donations
Date: Spring 2013
Our habitat restoration would not have been possible without the generous donations of native plants from local nurseries. Attached below are the lists of requests we sent to the nurseries. We received all the plants we needed for both garden restoration projects, either completely free or with matching funds!
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/gs_anp_donation.doc
Dear Sherry and American Native Plants Nursery,
Thank you for your willingness to help supply our native plants Kinder Garden and Monarch Way Station at Riderwood Elementary School! We would like to plant the following plants in the spring of 2013, as available:
Common name Scientific name Quantity needed
Witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana 1
Spicebush Lindera benzoin 2
Bottlebrush Elymus hystrix 3
Wild sweet William Phlox divaricata 3
White turtlehead Chelone glabra 3
Milkweed, any Asclepias spp 6-8
Ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis 2
Joe-Pye weed Eupatorium fistulosum 2
Threadleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata 2-3
Coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida 2
Goldenrod, any Solidago spp. 2-3
We have received funds of up to $100 from Riderwood, so with your matching gift we can purchase up to $200 worth of plants. Please let me know what we can purchase from this list. I am available to pick up the order as soon as this weekend. Thank you!
Diana Molavi
Date: Spring 2013
Our habitat restoration would not have been possible without the generous donations of native plants from local nurseries. Attached below are the lists of requests we sent to the nurseries. We received all the plants we needed for both garden restoration projects, either completely free or with matching funds!
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/gs_anp_donation.doc
Dear Sherry and American Native Plants Nursery,
Thank you for your willingness to help supply our native plants Kinder Garden and Monarch Way Station at Riderwood Elementary School! We would like to plant the following plants in the spring of 2013, as available:
Common name Scientific name Quantity needed
Witch hazel Hamamelis virginiana 1
Spicebush Lindera benzoin 2
Bottlebrush Elymus hystrix 3
Wild sweet William Phlox divaricata 3
White turtlehead Chelone glabra 3
Milkweed, any Asclepias spp 6-8
Ironweed Vernonia noveboracensis 2
Joe-Pye weed Eupatorium fistulosum 2
Threadleaf Coreopsis Coreopsis verticillata 2-3
Coneflower Rudbeckia fulgida 2
Goldenrod, any Solidago spp. 2-3
We have received funds of up to $100 from Riderwood, so with your matching gift we can purchase up to $200 worth of plants. Please let me know what we can purchase from this list. I am available to pick up the order as soon as this weekend. Thank you!
Diana Molavi
Sun Nurseries -- Plant Donations
Date: Spring 2013
Sun Nurseries responded to our request for plants and gave us a $50 gift card!
Date: Spring 2013
Sun Nurseries responded to our request for plants and gave us a $50 gift card!
Perennial Farm -- Plant Donations
Date: Spring 2013
Perennial farm provided everything on the attached list (except the common milkweed which it didn't have in stock) for FREE!
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/perennial_farm_letter.doc
Date: Spring 2013
Perennial farm provided everything on the attached list (except the common milkweed which it didn't have in stock) for FREE!
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/perennial_farm_letter.doc
Girl Scouts - Stepping Stones for the Schoolyard Habitat
Date: April 2013
(Text and captions were typed by Girl Scout Troop 1953.)
We made these stepping stones with cement and broken glass. They make a really cool path for walking on.
--Molly I.
Date: April 2013
(Text and captions were typed by Girl Scout Troop 1953.)
We made these stepping stones with cement and broken glass. They make a really cool path for walking on.
--Molly I.
Girsl Scouts - Habitat Clean Up
Date: September 2013
Girl Scout Troop 1953 devoted a meeting to sprucing up the habitat. They weeded and painted split rails. (Text and captions below were typed by the troop.)
We painted names into wood split-rails. The names had already been carved in. In the left picture, Ari F., Anna V., and Ashley P. are painting. In the right picture, I (Annelise M.) am "supervising" some girls painting (I had already painted mine).
--Annelise M.
Date: September 2013
Girl Scout Troop 1953 devoted a meeting to sprucing up the habitat. They weeded and painted split rails. (Text and captions below were typed by the troop.)
We painted names into wood split-rails. The names had already been carved in. In the left picture, Ari F., Anna V., and Ashley P. are painting. In the right picture, I (Annelise M.) am "supervising" some girls painting (I had already painted mine).
--Annelise M.
Girl Scouts -- Gardening
Date: April 3, 2014
Daisy Troop 110 (kindergarteners) got into the Green School spirit by adding some beautiful spring flowers to the front of the school!
Date: April 3, 2014
Daisy Troop 110 (kindergarteners) got into the Green School spirit by adding some beautiful spring flowers to the front of the school!
PTA -- Organizational Support and Funding
Date: August 2012 - Ongoing
The Green Team has benefitted immensely from the full support of Riderwood's PTA since the beginning of the Green School initiative in the fall of 2012. The PTA included a Green Team representative on the agenda of the first meeting of the school year and periodically as requested after that. The PTA made the Green Team a standing committee with a line item in the budget and has made "becoming a Green School" one of its primary objectives of the past two years. They generously funded the cost of the MAEOE conference for two teachers in February 2014 and the building of the proposed outdoor classroom.
Initial contact with PTA president to pitch idea of Green School:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/green_school_certification
On agenda of first PTA meeting of 2012-13:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/12
On agenda for GS update and funding of outdoor classroom:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/gs_cp_pta_agenda_3-4-142.doc
Date: August 2012 - Ongoing
The Green Team has benefitted immensely from the full support of Riderwood's PTA since the beginning of the Green School initiative in the fall of 2012. The PTA included a Green Team representative on the agenda of the first meeting of the school year and periodically as requested after that. The PTA made the Green Team a standing committee with a line item in the budget and has made "becoming a Green School" one of its primary objectives of the past two years. They generously funded the cost of the MAEOE conference for two teachers in February 2014 and the building of the proposed outdoor classroom.
Initial contact with PTA president to pitch idea of Green School:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/green_school_certification
On agenda of first PTA meeting of 2012-13:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/12
On agenda for GS update and funding of outdoor classroom:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/gs_cp_pta_agenda_3-4-142.doc
Teachers and Parents -- Sponsor-a-Split-Rail
Date: Beginning Spring 2013 - March 2014
Riderwood teachers parents have been very supportive of the Green Team's efforts to restore the schoolyard habitat. The Green Team organized a "Sponsor-a-Split-Rail" fundraiser, where families could donate $20 towards the cost of new split rails and supplies needed to stain and waterproof the wood. In return, the Green Team emblazoned the families' names on a split rail with a wood carving tool. The fundraiser was a great success, as all 54 split rails were sponsored allowing us to pay for a completely new split rail fence without requesting PTA funds.
Form for families to sponsor-a-split-rail:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/sponsor-a-split-rail.doc
Date: Beginning Spring 2013 - March 2014
Riderwood teachers parents have been very supportive of the Green Team's efforts to restore the schoolyard habitat. The Green Team organized a "Sponsor-a-Split-Rail" fundraiser, where families could donate $20 towards the cost of new split rails and supplies needed to stain and waterproof the wood. In return, the Green Team emblazoned the families' names on a split rail with a wood carving tool. The fundraiser was a great success, as all 54 split rails were sponsored allowing us to pay for a completely new split rail fence without requesting PTA funds.
Form for families to sponsor-a-split-rail:
/uploads/1/8/1/3/18132917/sponsor-a-split-rail.doc
Riderwood Parents - Donated Drip Hose
Date: Spring 2013
The shrubs and perennials planted in our new "Kinder Garden" and schoolyard habitat needed regular watering to stay alive during that first spring and summer after planting. Although the Green Team set up a watering schedule for volunteers, one parent donated a soaker hose to make the job easier. Now, volunteers can concentrate on carrying watering cans down the hill to the habitat, while the soaker hose waters the Kinder Garden!
Date: Spring 2013
The shrubs and perennials planted in our new "Kinder Garden" and schoolyard habitat needed regular watering to stay alive during that first spring and summer after planting. Although the Green Team set up a watering schedule for volunteers, one parent donated a soaker hose to make the job easier. Now, volunteers can concentrate on carrying watering cans down the hill to the habitat, while the soaker hose waters the Kinder Garden!
Riderwood Parents - Donated Rain Barrel
Date: Spring 2014
The Spencer family purchased a rain barrel for the school grounds! It will be installed by the Save Water Action Team in April or May 2014. (See BMP Water Conservation/Water Pollution Prevention.)
Date: Spring 2014
The Spencer family purchased a rain barrel for the school grounds! It will be installed by the Save Water Action Team in April or May 2014. (See BMP Water Conservation/Water Pollution Prevention.)
Teachers and Parents - Hours and hours of labor!
Date: September 2012 - ongoing
We've already shown how teachers devote hours and hours to planning environmental issue instruction, participating in Garden Workdays, sponsoring split rails, and modeling good environmental practices for students. In addition, our Green School mission could not be accomplished without the tireless efforts of many parents. They were the muscle behind the habitat restorations. They volunteered to water the new plants over the summer. They pack trash-free lunches for their kids. They volunteer to monitor Trash-Free Lunch Days. They plan and buy supplies for Earth Week activities. They researched and designed the outdoor classroom. They stop Green Team members in the hall to share their ideas. Here are just a few examples of the many parents who are dedicated to this cause:
Date: September 2012 - ongoing
We've already shown how teachers devote hours and hours to planning environmental issue instruction, participating in Garden Workdays, sponsoring split rails, and modeling good environmental practices for students. In addition, our Green School mission could not be accomplished without the tireless efforts of many parents. They were the muscle behind the habitat restorations. They volunteered to water the new plants over the summer. They pack trash-free lunches for their kids. They volunteer to monitor Trash-Free Lunch Days. They plan and buy supplies for Earth Week activities. They researched and designed the outdoor classroom. They stop Green Team members in the hall to share their ideas. Here are just a few examples of the many parents who are dedicated to this cause:
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