Grant Funds Helping Make Grayslake Students 'Stewards Of Earth'

GRAYSLAKE, IL — Teachers at Prairie Crossing Charter School are no strangers to hands-on learning. In fact, the school already offers vegetable and native plant gardens outside each classroom, but that isn't stopping it from working to expand its offerings.

Naomi Hershiser, the school's dean of environmental learning, said its newest expansion will take the shape of a pollinator garden made possible by a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Why? Hershiser said the answer is simple: "It's educational."

"Gardening increases social-emotional competencies and increases academic achievement," she said. "It reaches students that don't necessarily thrive in a classroom setting."

Prairie Crossing was one of 43 schools across Illinois to receive a grant from the department of natural resources, each of which ranged to up to $1,000. Specifically, Prairie Crossing was given $972.90.

Hershiser said the garden will be designed and maintained by 5th grade students, who worked during the fall to choose plants and design the garden.

The students, she said, studied aesthetic principles and created several designs, which were combined to create the garden. They will go on to help plant the garden in the spring.

"This is the students' project. They've done a lot of the work and a lot of the planning and developed skills — some are more curriculum based and others are life-based skills," Hershiser said. "I hope they'll take that into their adult life and be gardeners and stewards of the earth as they move on after having these experiences here."

The garden will be composed of pollinator plants common in Illinois. Students researched local pollinators in designing the garden, something Hershiser said she believes will help "develop a citizenry that understands it and cares about it."

Hershiser said Prairie Crossing aims to plant its garden in May. Along the way, its gardens will teach students about ecology and biology, along with other lessons in a class's curriculum. But they also bring another form of learning to the school

"Young people have a natural affinity for biophilia," Hershiser said. "They love plants and animals. It's great for them to get outside. It'a also physically great as it keeps them moving and gives them a change of place."