Residents: Help Waters Elementary Build Garden Classroom with Online Vote

A local school needs your help to receive funds that will build students an outdoor garden classroom. 

Waters Elementary is one of only 10 schools competing nationwide for a $75,000 grant from Global Green USA. The organization, an American affiliate of Green Cross International, strives to create a more sustainable future. Their Green School Makeover has funded educational green projects for the last two years. 

To win the $75,000 grant—plus a $5,000 Office Depot gift card—Waters must collect votes in an online competition and win over a panel of judges. 

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The money would allow Waters students to learn in a stand-alone classroom in the school's garden. Children would also play a part in the classroom's design and construction. 

Already nationally recognized for its Ecology program, the classroom would be an addition to a school-wide recycling program, lunchroom composting and student-run garden. 

Waters started its track to sustainability more than 20 years ago when ecology teacher Pete Leki took over the program. Since then, students have been cooking home-grown potatoes in a fire pit and maintaining prairie lands at the school. 

Residents can vote here to help Waters defeat schools from New York to California.