Earth Partnership for Schools Team and Habitat Restoration Project Team

Since last year, these two teams have been on a quest to do something with their shared passion for ecological change. Their upcoming launch of the "WALC Habitat Restoration" project does just that. Staff and students are planning to create an outdoor classroom to increase academic engagement of students using environmentalism across the curriculum, and an educational, earth-friendly ecosystem around the school building. Students and staff will work collaboratively to grow native plants, install recycled plastic outdoor furniture, build a greenhouse and nurse plants for their outdoor classroom. While the program focuses on ecology, native habitat planting also incorporates math, science and art. Students will also build confidence and resiliency through their inclusion in decision-making and gain greater ownership in their learning, school and community. This hands-on experience will help students become experts in habitat restoration and ecology advisors to a wider audience throughout Winona. The teams consist of Debra Moe, Adam Rislov, Nate Pollock, Victoria Bronk, Rick Kuusisto, Scott Hannon, Mary Jennison, Joel Bruels, Ted Stuckmayer, Scott Lowery, Kristen Wicks, Terri Spartz, Lindsay Mather and Marji Ford.