Snapshot
Project Title: Operation Rescue: Restore the Habitat
S.T.A.R.S. Mini Grant Recipient
Fifth and sixth grade students from Flat Gap Elementary want to accelerate the restoration of the ecosystem in the Flat Gap Area. To do so, the students have decided they will build and decorate birdhouses, plant butterfly bushes, perennials, and trees in the community. In the process of cleaning up the debris along the streams, the homes of numerous animals are being destroyed. The clean-up process involves bulldozing areas and burning the debris. This is destroying the homes of small animals and will have a snowball effect on the ecosystem. To combat the effect on wild life and to beautify the region, these students have decided they will build birdhouses, decorate them, and plant new vegetation. In order to achieve this goal, the students have decided to complete several activities: completing a memorial quilt that will preserve their stories for future generations and filming an original YouTube presentation. Students have already contacted Judy Bowen, an expert in quilting, and she has agreed to help the students prepare their quilt. This quilt will be auctioned off; the proceeds going toward restoration activities. In addition, students have already written their stories about where they were during the flood. They have also contacted local musicians who will create a sound track to accompany their stories. They plan on filming their stories and putting this production on YouTube and requesting donations for their efforts. In addition, students are hoping to work with a local organization such as the Kiwanis.