INK! helps fund Creekside High School and Julington Creek Elementary teacher and student efforts

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - March 24, 2022 - PRLog -- INK! (Investing in Kids) recently helped fund a new learning space for students at Julington Creek Elementary in Fruit Cove, Florida for an outdoor learning space. Grants provided by Wells Fargo through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations and the Community First Cares Foundation funded the project. According to Donna Lueders, INK!'s executive director, the Academy of Environmental Sciences and the Teaching Academy at Creekside High School collaborated with elementary school students in the service-learning project. High school students actively built garden beds, added native landscaping, developed sensory experiences, and created engaging lessons to share with younger students for a direct experience to teach and learn during World Water Day on March 22. Student teaching took place in rotational groups throughout the morning and early afternoon activities with a 'Water Passport' to track learning experiences.

Jeanette Murphy, Julington Creek Elementary School's Principal initiated the unique project and permanent outdoor learning plan in 2020 with Alicia "Ali" Pressel, St. Johns County School District secondary school science teacher at Creekside High School and 2020-2021 St. Johns County Teacher of the Year.

The permanent installation includes outdoor areas with a Wacky Watersheds and Fun 2.0 space where students learn about the water cycle, watersheds, and aquatic health through interactive lessons with resources from the St. Johns River Water Management District. A Nifty Natives area features the importance of native landscaping in the community, and about pollination through a student-developed sensory activity. The Rock N' Roll location encourages students to understand rock cycles, rock types, and the importance of limestone in the development of the Florida aquifer. Sifting through Soils helps students to learn about soil layers and the importance of soil resources in water filtration. Green ThumbsUp! features gardening basics and the opportunity for students to plant their own seeds.

For more information contact Donna Lueders at 904-547-7120 or email Donna.Lueders@stjohns.k12.fl.us. Visit the website at https://www.ink-stjohns.org.