During Sprouting Naturalist time, an outdoor exploration program that Director Heather Buskard leads, students read a book on how trash can hurt the ocean animals, a topic they could apply to their surroundings. They talked about how they can help take care of the trails and nature around their school then got to work.

Kids went out and looked for trash along their trails and in the water near their boardwalk. They added in a STEM component, too, building a tool they could use to reach the trash. They made great trash “catchers” to help collect any trash they found. The classes filled up a few trash bags and made a big difference in their surroundings.