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Success stories
Black Mountain Elementary School, Kelowna, BC
Black Mountain Elementary School in Kelowna sits on the hills overlooking Okanagan Lake and right next to the Gopher Creek wetland. In Spring 2000, the grade 6 class participated in a wetland stewardship project.
The students and their teacher, Reg Volk, restored wetland habitat by planting about 100 native riparian shrubs and trees including willow, alder, saskatoon berry and birch. They also hung birdhouses around the area. Funding for the project was provided by the City of Kelowna and the Canadian Wildlife Fund.
Shortly after the planting several trees were vandalized. Eco Education BC happened to be visiting the school the next day, and helped with replanting. As of Fall of 2000, Reg Volk says riparian plantings and the wetland are "humming along".
Now the wetland is used as an outdoor classroom. Teachers have introduced students to the world of pond life using magnifying glasses and microscopes. Reg Volk’s grade 6 class has explored wetland insects in their life classification unit.