Toni Carmichael

Carmichael plans to use the ING grant funds to make improvements and new additions to the "Conservation Courtyard". The "Conservation Courtyard" is an outdoor, open air, living laboratory that was developed by students at West Oak Middle School in March 2006 that surrounds classrooms at the school. Through a partnership with the Wildlife Discovery Center, Carmichael and her students created a variety of habitats including a permanent pond, prairie, butterfly garden and small area to conduct a class. The courtyard has also served as a safe haven and place for rehabilitation of native turtles that have been hit by cars. To build on the existing area, Carmichael would like to install a new hatchling rearing pond for rare blanding turtles that the students are currently raising, install museum quality interpretive signs as teaching tools for the students, and provide ongoing maintenance of the site. Since it was developed, the "Conservation Courtyard" has been well received by the school and overall community. In fact, over 85 percent of the students stated that the facility has had the greatest impact on increasing their level of interest in science. Carmichael, who resides in Mundelein, hopes that the conservation facility will continue to keep community and school pride at an all time high.