Thanks to a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust (funded by sales of Maryland's Treasure of the Chesapeake license plate) we leave our urban campus to get outside and learn through hands-on experiences. Most of our student driven best management practices are done off-site.
High School students have raised and planted
20,000 oysters
on the Fort Carroll Oyster Sanctuary Reef.
Partnership with CBF, Baltimore Waterfront Partnership, Sagamore Development and Oasis Marina.
Oyster Gardeners 2015-present. Our interest in growing oysters began in 2012 when 15 9th-12th grade high school students and 2 staff personnel learned how to shake the dirt off of oysters and put them in cages for use in reef balls. We also toured the Oyster Restoration Center and learned about the history of oysters and how oysters filter and clean the water in the Chesapeake Bay. In 2014, a 6th grade student Lyla S. and her family became CBF oyster gardeners. At our 2015, Baltimore Lab School Watershed Steward's Awards, Lyla’s family introduced our students to Mr. Cummings and our school was invited to become CBF Oyster Gardeners. Beginning October 20, 2015, all Baltimore Lab High School students participate in growing oysters with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Baltimore Initiative as an action project which ties to the school curriculum. 54 high school students and teachers participate in this adventure based learning experience. Each month, small groups of 15 students and 3 teachers travel to the middle branch of the Patapsco River where we have 15-25 cages hanging from the pier in order to grow oysters and take care of them. 2017-18: 65 High School students participate as Oyster Gardeners!
Documentation for Oyster Gardening
| 6000_oysters_planted_2015.pdf |
| baltimore_lab_high_school_oyster_gardening.docx |
| oyster_gardening_sept_24_2016.pdf |
| 2016oysterschedule__1_.pdf |
| oysters_advisory_teachers_and_students.docx |
| participants_for_oyster_project.docx |
| service_learning_hours_earned_as_oyster_gardeners_2015-16.docx |
| participant_list_for_oysters_wednesday_november_18.docx |
| dec._16_2015_participant_list.docx |
| jan_20_2016_participant_list.docx |
Baltimore Lab Students and Teachers helped to plant and continue to learn about and care for
327 Trees!
Professional development and resources provided by the Baltimore Tree Trust
Baltimore Lab School students helped to plant and continue to care for our Old Goucher Baltimore Tree Trust Street Trees!
Our discovery of and care for our urban forest was sparked by participation in a 2011 Urban Forest Project. In 2014-15 we partnered with the Baltimore Tree Trust in order for our students to become Tree Keepers. At the beginning of each school year, all Baltimore Lab Teachers and students have agreed to continue to adopt trees in our neighborhood by learning about them, planting them and taking care of them over time. The majority of "our" planted trees now live in newly cut or expanded tree wells thanks to P. Flanigan & Sons, Inc., who generously donated time, labor and equipment to remove and recycle approximately 6,700 square feet of impervious surface! While planting the trees during the 2014-15 school year our Baltimore Lab School teachers and students learned how to be Tree Keepers. Each teacher was given a "tree as a gift" along with a bucket to educate and share with their students.
Baltimore Lab School and The Baltimore Tree Trust began working in the Old Goucher neighborhood (located in central Baltimore between N. Howard Street & Guilford Avenue and 27th & 20th Streets) in summer of 2014. Since the start of our work in Old Goucher, we are proud to say that we have planted a total of 327 street trees.
Our discovery of and care for our urban forest was sparked by participation in a 2011 Urban Forest Project. In 2014-15 we partnered with the Baltimore Tree Trust in order for our students to become Tree Keepers. At the beginning of each school year, all Baltimore Lab Teachers and students have agreed to continue to adopt trees in our neighborhood by learning about them, planting them and taking care of them over time. The majority of "our" planted trees now live in newly cut or expanded tree wells thanks to P. Flanigan & Sons, Inc., who generously donated time, labor and equipment to remove and recycle approximately 6,700 square feet of impervious surface! While planting the trees during the 2014-15 school year our Baltimore Lab School teachers and students learned how to be Tree Keepers. Each teacher was given a "tree as a gift" along with a bucket to educate and share with their students.
Baltimore Lab School and The Baltimore Tree Trust began working in the Old Goucher neighborhood (located in central Baltimore between N. Howard Street & Guilford Avenue and 27th & 20th Streets) in summer of 2014. Since the start of our work in Old Goucher, we are proud to say that we have planted a total of 327 street trees.
Baltimore Lab School Tree Keepers
Dates:
April 11, 2015
May 6, 2015
May 9, 2015
June 17, 2016
Location: Old Goucher neighborhood
# of students: 40 students
Description: High School Technology and science students continue to identify and document the health of trees that last year’s high school students helped to plant in our neighborhood.
Teachers: Ruth Goodlaxson, 8th grade Math, Ms. Moore, High School Environmental Science, Mr Schwartz, High School Math and Ms. Brooks, High School Technology.
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator, Amanda Sullivan, Baltimore Tree Trust.
Dates:
April 11, 2015
May 6, 2015
May 9, 2015
June 17, 2016
Location: Old Goucher neighborhood
# of students: 40 students
Description: High School Technology and science students continue to identify and document the health of trees that last year’s high school students helped to plant in our neighborhood.
Teachers: Ruth Goodlaxson, 8th grade Math, Ms. Moore, High School Environmental Science, Mr Schwartz, High School Math and Ms. Brooks, High School Technology.
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator, Amanda Sullivan, Baltimore Tree Trust.
Student made film by Madelyn, Devin and Josh
Documentation for Tree Keepers
| may_6_2015_school_yard_habitat_attendance.docx |
| june_17_2016_tree_keepers.pdf |
| june_17_action_project_tree_keepers.docx |
| treehealthcheck--child.pdf |
| june_17_2016_tree_keepers_attendance.pdf |
| student_letter_trees.pdf |
| student_tree_keepers.pdf |
| may_9_2015_tree_planting_attendance.docx |
| april_11_2015_tree_planting_attendance.docx |
Middle School and High School Students raise and release 93 Trout.
Trout in the Classroom
From the initial implementation of TIC through the culminating activity, Baltimore Lab School students will be the driving force behind the project. At the end of the school year, the mature trout will be released into Herring Run in Baltimore, a tributary of the Back River, located three miles from the school. Students will visit Herring Run Park to observe and study the trout’s new environment. Classes will take day trips to the park to allow students the opportunity to convene with nature for academic and recreational activities. In a culminating activity, students will release the trout into the river, ending the program with a meaningful ceremony of stewardship and conservation. Herring Run Park and the TIC program will remain with the students as a symbol of environmentally conscious action and intellectual exploration.
# of Trout released: 93 trout released
Date: Wednesday April 26, 2017
# of students: 10
Teachers: Kara Huggins, 8th grade Science, John Mulherin, High School Government,Lauren Moore, Environmental Science, Carrie Brazell, Lower School Assistant. and
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator
# of Trout released: 93 trout released
Date: Wednesday April 26, 2017
# of students: 10
Teachers: Kara Huggins, 8th grade Science, John Mulherin, High School Government,Lauren Moore, Environmental Science, Carrie Brazell, Lower School Assistant. and
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator
Date: May 10, 2017
Grade Level: High School
Subject: Environmental Science
# of students: 14
Activity:
Students learned how to measure and maintain water quality in their math and science classes. Humanities teachers used the trout and the students’ knowledge of ecosystems as a novel and relevant source of inspiration for reading, writing, and artistic expression.
Baltimore Lab School Special Educators: Lauren Moore, High School Environmental Studies
Grade Level: High School
Subject: Environmental Science
# of students: 14
Activity:
Students learned how to measure and maintain water quality in their math and science classes. Humanities teachers used the trout and the students’ knowledge of ecosystems as a novel and relevant source of inspiration for reading, writing, and artistic expression.
Baltimore Lab School Special Educators: Lauren Moore, High School Environmental Studies
Documentation for Trout in the Classroom.
| tic_thanks_2017.pdf |
| permit.pdf |
| jan._3_2017_trout_update.docx |
Baltimore Lab High School students planted
250 native plants
in their pollinator garden located at Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry Field Day.
Bi- Annual Butterfly Garden Planting and Maintenance. Every fall and spring beginning in 2012, our students and staff maintain the butterfly garden at Fort McHenry. Students return to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. By participating, students help maintain and expand the native butterfly garden our students began planting in 2012. We also weed, mulch and plant "our" pollinator and rain gardens.
# of students: 25
# of native plants: 250
BLS Staff: Patti Child, Lauren Moore, Environmental Science, Amy Zbikowski, High School Service Learning.
Other Staff: Baltimore Aquarium Staff and volunteers.
Dates:
May 5, 2017
May 7, 2016
October 10, 2015
April 25, 2015
April 9, 2016, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Fort McHenry
Description: Fort McHenry Field Day. Baltimore Lab High School students returned to Fort McHenry for the 3rd year in a row to maintain the butterfly and rain garden. 50 native plants planted each year.
Bi- Annual Butterfly Garden Planting and Maintenance. Every fall and spring beginning in 2012, our students and staff maintain the butterfly garden at Fort McHenry. Students return to Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. By participating, students help maintain and expand the native butterfly garden our students began planting in 2012. We also weed, mulch and plant "our" pollinator and rain gardens.
# of students: 25
# of native plants: 250
BLS Staff: Patti Child, Lauren Moore, Environmental Science, Amy Zbikowski, High School Service Learning.
Other Staff: Baltimore Aquarium Staff and volunteers.
Dates:
May 5, 2017
May 7, 2016
October 10, 2015
April 25, 2015
April 9, 2016, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Fort McHenry
Description: Fort McHenry Field Day. Baltimore Lab High School students returned to Fort McHenry for the 3rd year in a row to maintain the butterfly and rain garden. 50 native plants planted each year.
Documentation for Fort McHenry Day
| fort_mchenry_field_day_participants.docx |
| fort_mchenry_field_day_participants.docx |
| fbbp_march_2014_briefing_doc-_volunteers.pdf |
| registration_list_for_april_26th-_fort_mchenry_field_day.doc |
BLS seniors plant 300 native plants
during annual Service Day
at Rawlings Conservatory in Druid Hill Park
Date:
May 27th, 2015, 8:00-12:00
May 26, 2016 9:30am-1pm:
Rawlings Conservatory Community Garden Planting Day
Location: Rawlings Conservatory at Druid Hill Park
# of students: 30
# of native plants: 300
Description: Gardening Day is led by our BLS Intern at the Rawlings Conservatory. Interns give a tour of the facility and lead their peers in planting and weeding the butterfly gardens each year. Our students have planted 300 native plants at the Rawling's Conservatory outdoor garden space.
Teacher: Amy Zbikowski
Other Staff: Patti Child, Outdoor Education Coordinator
BLS high school students help to maintain the living shoreline at Ben Oaks on the Severn, clean and monitor the streams and plant 3 floating gardens.
Living Shoreline - Ben Oaks on the Severn.
Baltimore Lab School students continue to maintain a living shoreline and conduct water quality testing in two streams.
Grade Level: High School Environmental Science
Dates: 2011 to present
# of students: 60
Teachers:
2011, 2012: Jonathon White, Chemistry
2013: Kara Huggins, Environmental Science
2014: Ite Clary, Environmental Science
2015: Lauren Moore, Environmental Science
2016: Lauren Moore, Environmental Science
Outdoor Education Coordinator: Patti Child
High School students continue to plant and maintain the Ben Oaks Community shoreline. We began in 2011 when Mr. White's chemistry students conducting water quality testing and maintaining the living shoreline. In 2013, Ms. Huggins' Environmental Science students took over the testing, adding a search for macro invertebrates and cleaning trash from the streams. This effort was continued by Ms. Clary's Environmental Science students, who in 2014, added floating gardens to the project. In 2015 , Ms. Moore's students explored streams for macro invertebrates and conducted water quality tests. The water quality tests included the levels of dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, phosphates, and fecal coli form. Photos and results are reported to the community each year. Students summarize the data they collect, and write letters to the Ben Oaks Community Organization. In 2015-16 we maintained the no mow zone and passed the responsibility for the floating gardens to the neighborhood.
As a result of our student's efforts; photos, testing, and letters summarizing the data and its implications, the Ben Oaks Community on the Severn River planted a living shoreline and had repairs done to a degraded outfall on Cool Spring.
Baltimore Lab School students continue to maintain a living shoreline and conduct water quality testing in two streams.
Grade Level: High School Environmental Science
Dates: 2011 to present
# of students: 60
Teachers:
2011, 2012: Jonathon White, Chemistry
2013: Kara Huggins, Environmental Science
2014: Ite Clary, Environmental Science
2015: Lauren Moore, Environmental Science
2016: Lauren Moore, Environmental Science
Outdoor Education Coordinator: Patti Child
High School students continue to plant and maintain the Ben Oaks Community shoreline. We began in 2011 when Mr. White's chemistry students conducting water quality testing and maintaining the living shoreline. In 2013, Ms. Huggins' Environmental Science students took over the testing, adding a search for macro invertebrates and cleaning trash from the streams. This effort was continued by Ms. Clary's Environmental Science students, who in 2014, added floating gardens to the project. In 2015 , Ms. Moore's students explored streams for macro invertebrates and conducted water quality tests. The water quality tests included the levels of dissolved oxygen, pH, nitrates, phosphates, and fecal coli form. Photos and results are reported to the community each year. Students summarize the data they collect, and write letters to the Ben Oaks Community Organization. In 2015-16 we maintained the no mow zone and passed the responsibility for the floating gardens to the neighborhood.
As a result of our student's efforts; photos, testing, and letters summarizing the data and its implications, the Ben Oaks Community on the Severn River planted a living shoreline and had repairs done to a degraded outfall on Cool Spring.
| floating_garden_kits.docx |
Invasive Plants removed from Oregon Ridge State Park
Led by High School student Josh “Chaim” N.
Invasive Species Removal
Date: 7/9/14
Grade Level: High School Students
Subject: Cross Curricular, Community Service
# of students: 12 students
Square Feet of Invasives removed: 25 sq feet
On July 9th, 2014, 12 students from the Baltimore Lab summer program went to Oregon Ridge State Park, on the outskirts of Baltimore, Maryland. A group of students, me, and Mr. Schwartz, and Oregon Ridge Staff, went to a small area and started to remove some invasive plants in an area where they wanted to plant a forest garden. Some of those plants that we removed were Chinese Wineberry; Devils tail vines, Japanese stilt grass, and Garlic weed. Wineberry, also known as Rubus Phoenicolasius, is an orange colored fruit, the plant itself is biennial, so its stalk grows the first year, and its berries the next. Devils tail, AKA Polygonum Perfoliatum, is a herbaceous fast-growing vine; all along the stem are small barbs, that if pulled, will shred the flesh of the organism pulling on it, so it’s a good idea to wear leather or thick gloves when removing this plant. Japanese stilt grass, AKA Microstegium Vimineum, is a hybrid of bamboo, but doesn’t grow as tall. Instead it spreads out at an extremely fast rate during the fall, so the best time to remove this plant is in the summer. Garlic “mustard” weed, AKA Alliaria Petiolata, is a biennial flowering plant in the mustard family. To effectively remove it you need to use weed control for 3-4 years in a row.
All these invasive species have been known to overgrow in forests, and are hard to control once they spread, so it’s a good idea to get rid of them right when they sprout. Another good thing to do if you want to keep these plants is to keep them in a contained area away from other plants. These plants can be easily identified, except for Garlic Mustard weed, due to it having two identical types of plants usually growing beside it.
Even though the weather was hot, the Oregon Ridge staff appreciated our help to remove these invasive plants; as for me, I loved working on that part of their park, and it was a pleasure to get outside.