9th grade IES students redesign campus to prioritize pollinator habitat
Walk past the high school building this fall, and you might spot 9th graders with rakes and mulch, transforming overlooked corners of campus into something new. To begin the year, students are continuing the site preparation process for creating vibrant pollinator habitat.
This fall, students will collaborate with community partners to clear non-native vegetation, mulch, rake, and begin planting herbaceous perennials. These efforts lay the groundwork for spring seeding, when next year’s 9th graders will sow a curated mix of annuals and perennials.
This collaborative, student-led project is both an authentic service-learning and stewardship opportunity. Students surveyed and evaluated potential meadow sites, weighing ecological benefits alongside accessibility to outdoor learning and recreation spaces. The project builds on a vision started by C.R.A.F.T. Gardens & Greenhouses middle school students and now expands into the high school, strengthening habitat for both birds and pollinators.
With support from Creating Habitat for Pollinators, Woodstock Union High School is now a candidate for up to two acres of funded native wildflower meadow—joining more than 13 acres of habitat already established across Vermont and New Hampshire. Long-term, the meadows will provide an outdoor classroom for students and a model of youth-led environmental stewardship.
This work would not be possible without the support of David Hammond, Abbie Castriotta, Kevin Nunan, and Orion Binney, Karen Ganey, as well as the many teachers, staff, and students who contribute their energy to making our campus a healthier place for pollinators and people alike.