At Rome Middle School, hundreds of students are getting their hands dirty to restore nearby wetlands for the future. The school has been chosen to receive a $1000. grant that will fund a special project using curriculum from Project Learning Tree (PLT), a hands-on environmental literacy program.
“I was super surprised to hear the good news,” said grant awardee and middle school teacher Ashley Hamby. “A creek near the school flooded about four years ago and a walkway over the wetlands washed out. I’ve wanted to do something about it ever since.”
Hamby’s accepted proposal will accomplish a number of goals corresponding to state educational standards and to the PLT mission of advancing environmental literacy, stewardship, and sustainability. By revitalizing the school’s wetlands, students will explore critical environmental topics such as wildlife habitats, water quality, and natural resource management while gaining practical, real-world experience.
“We’re excited to see this project get launched,” said Georgia Forestry Commission Education Coordinator Chelsea York. “These students are going to be doing everything from testing water and soil, to analyzing habitats, planting native grasses, and keeping written and video records for full documentation. Along the way they’ll be getting a taste of careers in environmental science and agriculture, and understanding the role of wetlands in sustaining biodiversity.”
About 450 students, most of them in seventh and eighth grade agriculture classes, will take part in the project. They’ll utilize PLT learning materials that focus on wildlife, habitat requirements, and species interdependence, as well as erosion control and water filtration.
“The students are absolutely pumped,” said Hamby. “There will be something for everybody to do, from planting cattails to remaking the entry sign!”
The project kicked off in mid-August and is expected to be completed by summer 2026.
For more information about Project Learning Tree and services of the Georgia Forestry Commission, visit GaTrees.org.