Beatrice High School Arboretum: Student and Community Involvement

This premise forms the foundation of the Beatrice High School outdoor education classroom and butterfly garden projects.

The projects are the basis of inquiry learning outdoors. Students take a more active role in their science classes when given the opportunity to ask questions and explore natural areas of interest.

Botany students have an abundance of plants and insects to observe, grow, and identify. Advanced independent study research projects such as the effect of algae on water retention in soil, the symbiotic relationship of fungus (yeast) and plant roots to overcome petroleum pollution, and observations of the changing soil profile have been conducted.

The BHS Science Club has been the recipient of grants from the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum (NSA) (funded by the NET).

The first project, P.O.N.D.S.I.T.E. (Providing Opportunities for Natural Discoveries in Scientific Explorations of the Environment), was a combination outdoor education classroom complete with pond, butterfly garden and prairie restora-tion area.

The second project, P.L.A.N.T.S (Prairie Landscapes and Natural Tree Sites) built upon the first by adding shrubs, trees, native perennials and perennials from NSA’s GreatPlants® program that are especially suited to this region.

The site was designed with year-round interest in mind. Spring brings the flowering of bulbs, redwood, serviceberry and chokeberry. Summer and fall see the blooming of perennials. Grasses maintain interest into the winter months.

In addition to the sciences, art, social studies, Spanish and English instructors have also utilized the site in their lesson plans.

The best way for a community project to be successful is to include the students in the planning and allowing them to take ownership of the process.

For instance, the two-pond system designed by the Science Club students could have easily been dug using machines.

However, digging it by hand allowed the students to take ownership, have fun in the process, and resulted in members of the community working together to create a place of beauty, enjoyment and relaxation. The students took ownership of the project and got to meet and work with members of the community, who in turn took ownership in the school.

Part of the success of a project like this lies in sparking the imagination of the students.

Because a project like this had not been done before at the high school, it was hard for the students to visualize what possibilities lay in the barren clay site behind the school.

Providing the “vision” can be accomplished in many ways. Using the internet to research is an excellent way to begin. Students can see other projects and start to think about what they would like to see in their project.

Brainstorming at a science club meeting led to the formation of a committee to research the types of plants that would grow well in Nebraska. Students also came up with other ideas to improve the site (including the building of the greenhouse) and the Science Club voted to construct a bridge over the stream between the two ponds to add to the appeal of the water feature in the arboretum.

Another component is asking other members of the community for help.

Our local Earl May Nursery & Garden Center, along with the one in Shenandoah, provided a free preliminary drawing of the arboretum based on the ideas of the students. They also provided labor and pool maintenance and donated plants and other educational materials.

Others in the community donated rocks for the pond, wildflower and grass seed, mulch, soil and river rock.

The Beatrice Daily Sun has been a terrific source of publicity for our projects, increasing interest and participation. It is important to simply ask, and to remember to say "thank you!"

The students continue to maintain the site on scheduled workdays throughout the year. The project continues to impact the lives of students at Beatrice High School. Thank you for allowing us this tremendous opportunity.