Habitat Restoration
Butterfly Garden restoration
Gunston’s butterfly garden predates the growing emphasis on using native species in butterfly gardens. In the fall of 2013, student Tia Johnston researched all of the species in the butterfly garden and outlined which should be removed as part of a restoration effort. Gunston is on the flight path of the Monarch as it migrates to Mexico. Tia completed an advanced project on the monarch and then educated her class. She invited Andi Pupke to come in and help plan out a pollinator garden. During Earth Day 2014, Tia educated her peers and lead a workshop that began the process of removing the non-native species.
Gunston’s butterfly garden predates the growing emphasis on using native species in butterfly gardens. In the fall of 2013, student Tia Johnston researched all of the species in the butterfly garden and outlined which should be removed as part of a restoration effort. Gunston is on the flight path of the Monarch as it migrates to Mexico. Tia completed an advanced project on the monarch and then educated her class. She invited Andi Pupke to come in and help plan out a pollinator garden. During Earth Day 2014, Tia educated her peers and lead a workshop that began the process of removing the non-native species.
Invasive Species Removal
During Earth Day each year, Gunston students have the opportunity to participate in an invasive species removal stewardship activity. From English ivy to Kudzu, our campus contains a number of highly invasive species.
During Earth Day each year, Gunston students have the opportunity to participate in an invasive species removal stewardship activity. From English ivy to Kudzu, our campus contains a number of highly invasive species.
Blue Bird Boxes
On Earth Day 2012, we had a workshop to making Blue Bird boxes that were going to be installed around our campus and monitored by the ornithology class. After the boxes were built, students in our ornithology class and environmental club found the best places to install them. Once the bird boxes were installed, students then went out once every two weeks to monitor nests, eggs, baby birds. We were looking at the growth rate of the birds and which box was more suitable for the particular species of bird.
On Earth Day 2012, we had a workshop to making Blue Bird boxes that were going to be installed around our campus and monitored by the ornithology class. After the boxes were built, students in our ornithology class and environmental club found the best places to install them. Once the bird boxes were installed, students then went out once every two weeks to monitor nests, eggs, baby birds. We were looking at the growth rate of the birds and which box was more suitable for the particular species of bird.
Reef Ball Construction
During Earth Day 2013, the Environmental Club offered a workshop to build reef balls for use in restoring oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay. The student led workshop was well attended but due to an error in mixing the concrete, the concrete didn’t cure properly and no balls could be deployed in the Bay.
During Earth Day 2013, the Environmental Club offered a workshop to build reef balls for use in restoring oyster reefs in the Chesapeake Bay. The student led workshop was well attended but due to an error in mixing the concrete, the concrete didn’t cure properly and no balls could be deployed in the Bay.
Living Shoreline Planting
Gunston received a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to restore 600 feet of the Corsica River shoreline. Students assisted in the project by planting the native grasses after heavy machinery moved the rock and sand into place. Students remain involved in the project by monitoring the survival rates of the plants through the Biology classes.
Gunston received a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to restore 600 feet of the Corsica River shoreline. Students assisted in the project by planting the native grasses after heavy machinery moved the rock and sand into place. Students remain involved in the project by monitoring the survival rates of the plants through the Biology classes.