CONGRATULATIONS OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ON YOUR HARD WORK TURNING THE BIRDSONG NATURE TRAIL INTO A
​NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION CERTIFIED SCHOOLYARD HABITAT!
​See the article "A Melody of Learning at the Birdsong Nature Trail" in the NWF blog here

HOW WE DID IT:

It began with Lakeside High School volunteers (and a few OGE families) removing English ivy, Chinese privet, southern magnolia, Japanese privet, Japanese honeysuckle and nandina from the natural areas of the nature trail.  Five workdays on weekends cleared out a significant part of the nature trail providing sunlight and space for native woodland plants to survive and provide support for wildlife.
Students added native plants like clethra, hearts-a-bustin', ferns, foamflower, spicebush, beauty berry, redbud, blueberries, mayapple and coral honeysuckle.  They build a rock pile, brush pile, added a water source (a donated birdbath), added nesting boxes, a bee hotel, and created informational signage on the important practices that benefit wildlife.  
Using grant funds, landscape timbers were installed which clearly identify which part is the path, and which parts  are the natural areas that should be avoided by <human and pet> foot traffic.  The picnic area was cleared out, mulched and a border was added creating another safe outdoor learning space for classes. Students worked with Mrs. Deery to create looms and to weave natural items into their art work which was displayed during the rededication on Earth Day, April 22, 2022. 
There is still a lot of work to be done, and we'll continue to remove invasive plants and improve the natural areas around the school.  If your group is interested in volunteering, contact Kendall Xides at [email protected]
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Oak Grove Elementary is the recipient of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Conservation Teacher of the Year Grant.  The grant will be used for the Birdsong Nature Trail 30th Anniversary Project. 
​On Earth Day in 1992, the Birdsong Nature Trail was dedicated to the memory of Oak Grove students Brian and Laura Birdsong, who died in a plane crash in Brunswick, GA in 1991.  In the almost 30 years since the dedication, the nature trail has become overgrown in some areas and non-native plants like English Ivy, privet and nandina have taken over.  The timbers lining the trail have decayed in many places making it difficult to determine where the trail ends and the natural areas begin.  We will rededicate the Birdsong Nature Trail in April of 2022, having completed a restoration/habitat rehabilitation project that improves the area for our native plants and wildlife, as well as students, educators and community members.

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Fourth graders added a rock pile and bird feeder to the Birdsong Nature Trail as part of the NWF Wildlife Certification project. 

Third graders learned about the adaptations that invasive/non-native plants can have.  They learned how invasive plants spread, and then played the game "Spread", which illustrates how quickly Hedera helix (English Ivy) can take over natural areas.

Fifth graders will be assessing the biodiversity of the nature trail habitat as well as identifying and classifying the different plants and fungi.  They were introduced to the project by playing the Project Wild game ​Oh Deer!, and then discussed factors that may be causing habitat loss on the Birdsong Nature Trail.  Students will also create plant labels with common and scientific names, and if the plant is native or non-native. 

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Fourth graders learned about mayapple in the woodland habitat, planted some mayapple rhizomes where invasive ivy used to be, and did some mayapple inspired creative writing.  

Mayapples have emerged in areas once covered in English Ivy!

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY DONORS
Pike's Nursery      Lowe's     InTown Wholesale Nursery

On March 18, fourth graders wrote letters to local businesses asking for donations that were needed for their NWF Wildlife Certification application.  So far, we've received generous donations of birdhouses from Pikes, plants from InTown Wholesale Nursery, and a bird bath from Lowes.  Jason Hubbard from Lowe's opened the letter from students and recognized it was from the same elementary school he attended.  He brought the letter to Oak Grove and was given a tour of the nature trail by the students who wrote the letter!  Thank you to all our donors for supporting our project!

On January 11, Anna Yellin (left) and Linda May (right), from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, visited Oak Grove to work with students and officially present the grant award. Learn more here

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Fifth graders use math and measurement skills to determine the amount of landscape timbers needed to edge the path of the nature trail, and to determine how many they can buy to stay within the budget. 

On December 11, volunteers pulled invasive ivy from the nature trail, cut nandina berries so they wouldn't spread, and learned what a praying mantis egg case looks like.
​To learn more about plants that harm our urban forests, click here

In the Project Wild lesson, What's That, Habitat?, fourth graders identified their own basic needs and then learned more about habitat components and what animals need to survive.  During the project, students will be assessing what components need to be added to the nature trail in order to receive the NWF's Schoolyard Habitat designation.  They will also be adding native plants, nesting boxes and other elements beneficial to wildlife. 

Click here for the NWF checklist