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PONDS FOR KIDS |
| The Program The Ponds for Kids program is designed to give children and young adults a working appreciation for nature and ecology. Additionally, other areas like creative writing and poetry can also be incorporated by respective teachers. The opportunities are many and the ideas are limitless on how a school can incorporate the Ponds for Kids program into their curriculum. How does Ponds for Kids work? Interested teachers need to contact Earthworks Ponds & Watergardens to fill out an application to host a Ponds for Kids programs at their school or in their community. Earthworks decides in the month of December which school it will donate its time and equipment while guiding the participating students in construction of a functioning pond ecosystem. We typically run one Ponds for Kids program per year. Early application and discussion can help to make this a reality for your school! What does the school need to do? It is the schools, teachers, and or students responsibility to raise the funds to cover the cost of materials used. The expenses invested in constructing a standard 11' x 16' functioning pond ecosystem usually run around $1,500.00 to $2,000 dollars. Not only does this cover all of the pumps, plumbing, filters, liners and other gear, but also the rocks, gravel, mulch and topsoil as well. Whether through grants or fundraisers there are many options available to help an interested school pay for the material expenses. The Aquascape Ecosystem Today very few undisturbed ecosystems exist in the world. Unfortunately the ones that are the least affected are those that are the farthest away from us. In an effort to allow schools to show children how a functioning aquatic ecosystem works, Earthworks Ponds & Watergardens has dedicated their expertise to help enable local schools to construct their own pond ecosystems. By installing a pond system that becomes self-sustaining in a controlled environment, students can observe the ebb and flow of nature happening before their eyes. Besides conducting experiments on water quality they can also observe the animals that colonize the area on their own. Water is the source of all life. A shallow two-foot deep pond, installed properly will allow nature to flourish inside it year round. As the ecosystem evolves so will the educational opportunities. Art students can have their own Monet garden to paint. A schools own Walden pond will become a perfect setting for poetry and creative writing. Horticulture students can have a working classroom to observe their plants growth from season to season and year to year. The Pond for Kids program has many benefits for the students, the school and the community!
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