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Students engage with nature at Delaware Botanic Gardens

June 19, 2018

A group of 32 Sussex Central High School juniors visited Delaware Botanic Gardens in Dagsboro May 31 to observe nature and conduct various projects.

DBG President Ray Sander welcomed the students. “DBG is in the beginning of a long journey, and we are very proud to have these young scholars as participants on this journey,” said Sander. He hopes the students will return next year when DBG will be open to the public.

Ryan Revel, a biology teacher, organized the field trip with Sheryl Swed, DBG executive director. Swed said the Sussex Central group was the first student contingent to visit the garden as part of a pilot educational field trip. Swed said, “This is the beginning of the DBG education program.”

Revel said, “The science part of our International Baccalaureate DP requires that students do something called a Group Four project. At Sussex Central, we teach two Group Four courses, biology and chemistry. The content of the courses is college level. Students take these courses over a period of two years. The project is collaborative in nature and is a required element.”

The two-hour visit began with students recording the weather conditions, which affect the plants, and making observations in the garden. Then Gregg Tepper, director of horticulture, led a tour of the gardens. He explained how the various plants support the wildlife in the gardens, making it a living garden.

Observing the meadow garden, student Ryan Sosnoski said, “I like the diversity of plants here.”

Walking in the much cooler Woodland Garden, student Ashleigh Steele said, “I like the variety of environments within the gardens. There is something for everybody.”

After the tour, the students assembled at the Wetland Outdoor Classroom. They divided into three  groups. One group studied the native plants as they prepared a field guide of 30 species. The second group began taking water samples, and the third group took soil samples.

The Wetland Outdoor Classroom was designed and constructed by Todd Fritchman and Envirotech. Dogfish Head has generously underwritten the costs of this important learning feature.

Chemistry teacher Kristen Ables said, “Field work is always the best, and I’m looking forward to comparing these water and soil samples with the data you already have.” The samples went back to the classroom for further study.

Revel said, “I think a lot of learning happened here today. I envision these students bringing their children here someday. It is amazing to me that so much of the information Gregg Tepper shared today was so similar to what I have said in the classroom. This visit magnified many of those teaching points.”

The mission of the Delaware Botanic Gardens is to create an inspirational, educational and sustainable public garden in Delaware for the benefit and enjoyment of all. For more information, go to www.delawaregardens.org.

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