Interactive Environmental Learning Center located at community Parish

Interactive Environmental Learning Center located at community Parish

Taking a past eagle project that had been weathered over the years, my team and I decided to restore the "Rainbow Trail" which was originally created for the local nursery that uses the parish. More than restoring it, we decided to create an interactive learning center about the environment. In this center, there stands a small classroom area open to the wetlands, fit with a large table, and three benches designed for the nursery or the sunday school classes to use. On the other side of the trail a garden, compost, and practical animal den were set up to encourage organic growth and local wildlife. Informative signs were cemented in neatly to display key wildlife information and ways to better the local community through conservation and recycling. A bat house was designed and put up to maximize the bat population found in the area. Birdhouses, created by fellow scouts and painted by the nursery kids, were hung up all around the trail, to give the essence of "Rainbow" and promote local bird life. The Church's small recycle area, located right next to the trail, was spruced up and organized to fit neatly with the idea of recycling and improving the community.    We started by removing any dead and decaying material off the trail to a recycling pile near by. Trash was cleaned up and we started to rake clean the trails again. We removed any trees that stood on areas planned for construction.  Then, we began to build the compost, classroom, garden, and animal den areas. The compost was formed using simple pallets, and lies next to the garden, which houses shaded plantlife such as hasta and ferns. A sandpit lies close to the garden to showcase animal tracks. The animal den was created by using leftover brush and logs to pile up, and create a suitable home for rabbits or other animals. The classroom area houses a large table made of pressure treated wood to withstand the elements. It measures 6x6 and weighs several hundred pounds to prevent it from being easily moved. Two cedar benches with steel legs cemented in the ground give seating for toddlers, and a commercial bench cemeted in as well serves where the teachers would sit, or a passing couple looking to enjoy the view. The recycling center included wooden fence walls to keep in recycles and garbage. It was fitted to host seperated cans bottles, paper, cardboard, and metal to organize and allow for easier management, as well as making it easier on the actual work crews.    Signs were cemented in at certain spots around the trail, detaling specific data about the area. They include wildlife, specific plantlife, composting, recycling, gardening, etc. A welcome sign was put in the entrance.  Lastly, a grandopening for the Nursery was done on November 15th. 
Started Ended
Number of participants
56
Service hours
520
Location
United States of America

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