West Carter Middle School Earns PRIDE Project of the Month Award
September 30, 2016 by Angela Traver
West Carter Middle School receives the PRIDE Project of the Month Award for their Monarch Waystation created with PRIDE Environmental Educational Grant.
Carter County, KY — Inviting nature to West Carter Middle School is just one of the goals of the West Carter Middle School Science Club. The recent addition of a Monarch Butterfly Waystation to the school grounds is the latest of many environmental education tools this club has spearheaded, earning them PRIDE’s Project of the Month award. Funds for the project came from the 2015-16 PRIDE Environmental Education Grant sponsored by Toyota Motoring Manufacturing, Kentucky.
The WCMS students worked with professionals from the UK Cooperative Extension Service as well as completed their own research to determine where would be the best possible site for the garden. The garden features all Kentucky native plants, including the ever-important milkweed used to attract and sustain the Monarchs. The Science Club also installed rain barrels to help maintain the garden.
“These are amazing kids that are continually doing work to help others and the environment—all after school,” said Science Teacher and Science Club Sponsor, Beverly McDavid. “I’m very honored to be able to be the sponsor of this club.”
Along with the Monarch Waystation, the Science Club students at WCMS have also participated in cleanups on school grounds and on Tygart Creek. They have installed three butterfly gardens at the school and one at Grayson Lake State Park. In addition, the club built a greenhouse at the school where they grow their own vegetables, which are used in school salads.
“We love to see to see the Environmental Education Grant money go to projects that offer such great learning opportunities,” said Angela Traver, PRIDE program director. “ This project will continue to educate students for years to come. I’m glad PRIDE was able to be a part of it.”
For more info on PRIDE’s Environmental Education Grants and Project of the Month awards please go to www.kypride.org.
