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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — Many of Sandy Kauyedauty's fourth-grade students have never visited Colorado National Monument prior to the field trip she takes them on each year.
“They really love it,” plus it supports the fourth-grade curriculum, said Kauyedauty, who teaches at Dual Immersion Academy, 552 W. Main St.
This year, her students designed a native garden that will be planted along a pathway at the monument's Ute Canyon overlook on Rim Rock Drive. Those children, plus Ute Indian students from Ft. Duchesne, Utah, will plant the garden April 28 and May 6.
Colorado National Monument is one of 24 parks selected to participate in the National Park Foundation's 2011 First Bloom youth garden design contest. The First Bloom program was designed to give fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders firsthand experience in national parks, and teach kids conservation lessons such as distinguishing between native and invasive plant species.
The National Park Foundation will work with the winning youth group to come up with a prize designed to strengthen kids' connections to America's national parks, said Neil Mulholland, foundation president and CEO, in an email to the Free Press. Last year's winner, Fort Smith National Historic Site in Arkansas, and their youth partner organization won a trip to Shenandoah National Park and national parks in Washington, D.C.
Go to www.first-bloom.org to see the local students' design as well as entries from students around the country. Voters are asked to choose their five favorite designs, and are allowed to cast their votes daily through May 16.
When people vote they also enter a sweepstakes drawing for prizes such as the “America the Beautiful” National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands annual pass, or “Fodor's Official Guide to America's National Parks.”
When Kauyedauty's students visited the garden site in October, they noted what plants already existed there. They checked out the shade and sun conditions and took samples of soil back to the classroom to test for nutrients.
National Park Service education ranger Annie Runde met with Kauyedauty's classroom monthly, teaching them the difference between native and invasive plant species, drought-tolerant plants, how to sample soil and map out the area.
“They love it when Annie the ranger comes, and the activities she brings,” Kauyedauty said.
The students studied plant guides provided by Runde, and chose native plants they believed would grow well at the site.
“Our fourth-graders have put in a lot of time and effort, and I think have a good chance of winning,” Kauyedauty said.
“It's been a really great experience for these kids. They (visit) the monument, have an opportunity to do some gardening, and complex planning. I'm very happy we were selected for the project,” she said.
The monument was included in the second annual First Bloom contest thanks to a grant of nearly $6,500, secured by ranger Michelle Wheatley, the monument's chief of interpretation and visitor services.
“We were fortunate to get this grant and make it available to Dual Immersion Academy,” Wheatley said. “It pays for materials, plants, and transportation — including the travel of 50 Ute Indian students from Ft. Duchesne.”
More than 8,000 local students visit the monument each year, Wheatley said.
“It's getting more challenging with budget cuts, transportation, so we're trying to write grants and make programs available,” Wheatley said. “We hope this garden can be a learning laboratory, a new field trip stop location.”
“This is a self-guided nature trail through the eyes of a child.”
Ute elders are coming to Grand Junction in May to teach park service staff, Dual Immersion students, and children from the Ute reservation, about traditional and medicinal uses of the plants, Wheatley said.
“They are the indigenous people of this area,” she said. “We consulted with tribal leaders in making the signage,” for the garden.
Kauyedauty said the collaboration with monument staff on this project is something she expects her students will remember for the rest of their lives.
Admission to Colorado National Monument is free through Sunday, April 24, for National Park Week.
“They really love it,” plus it supports the fourth-grade curriculum, said Kauyedauty, who teaches at Dual Immersion Academy, 552 W. Main St.
This year, her students designed a native garden that will be planted along a pathway at the monument's Ute Canyon overlook on Rim Rock Drive. Those children, plus Ute Indian students from Ft. Duchesne, Utah, will plant the garden April 28 and May 6.
Colorado National Monument is one of 24 parks selected to participate in the National Park Foundation's 2011 First Bloom youth garden design contest. The First Bloom program was designed to give fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders firsthand experience in national parks, and teach kids conservation lessons such as distinguishing between native and invasive plant species.
The National Park Foundation will work with the winning youth group to come up with a prize designed to strengthen kids' connections to America's national parks, said Neil Mulholland, foundation president and CEO, in an email to the Free Press. Last year's winner, Fort Smith National Historic Site in Arkansas, and their youth partner organization won a trip to Shenandoah National Park and national parks in Washington, D.C.
Go to www.first-bloom.org to see the local students' design as well as entries from students around the country. Voters are asked to choose their five favorite designs, and are allowed to cast their votes daily through May 16.
When people vote they also enter a sweepstakes drawing for prizes such as the “America the Beautiful” National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands annual pass, or “Fodor's Official Guide to America's National Parks.”
When Kauyedauty's students visited the garden site in October, they noted what plants already existed there. They checked out the shade and sun conditions and took samples of soil back to the classroom to test for nutrients.
National Park Service education ranger Annie Runde met with Kauyedauty's classroom monthly, teaching them the difference between native and invasive plant species, drought-tolerant plants, how to sample soil and map out the area.
“They love it when Annie the ranger comes, and the activities she brings,” Kauyedauty said.
The students studied plant guides provided by Runde, and chose native plants they believed would grow well at the site.
“Our fourth-graders have put in a lot of time and effort, and I think have a good chance of winning,” Kauyedauty said.
“It's been a really great experience for these kids. They (visit) the monument, have an opportunity to do some gardening, and complex planning. I'm very happy we were selected for the project,” she said.
The monument was included in the second annual First Bloom contest thanks to a grant of nearly $6,500, secured by ranger Michelle Wheatley, the monument's chief of interpretation and visitor services.
“We were fortunate to get this grant and make it available to Dual Immersion Academy,” Wheatley said. “It pays for materials, plants, and transportation — including the travel of 50 Ute Indian students from Ft. Duchesne.”
More than 8,000 local students visit the monument each year, Wheatley said.
“It's getting more challenging with budget cuts, transportation, so we're trying to write grants and make programs available,” Wheatley said. “We hope this garden can be a learning laboratory, a new field trip stop location.”
“This is a self-guided nature trail through the eyes of a child.”
Ute elders are coming to Grand Junction in May to teach park service staff, Dual Immersion students, and children from the Ute reservation, about traditional and medicinal uses of the plants, Wheatley said.
“They are the indigenous people of this area,” she said. “We consulted with tribal leaders in making the signage,” for the garden.
Kauyedauty said the collaboration with monument staff on this project is something she expects her students will remember for the rest of their lives.
Admission to Colorado National Monument is free through Sunday, April 24, for National Park Week.
Vote for your favorite First Bloom designs at www.first-bloom.org.
Fourth-graders at Dual Immersion Academy, in Grand Junction are competing with youth groups around the United States for a prize that could include a trip to a national park. |
