The MARSH Project
Resources for Starting a Wetlands Schoolyard Habitat
Environmental Concern provides resources for teachers who want to create a wetland schoolyard habitat. Their newest initiative, the MARSH Project, is dedicated to transforming schoolyards, transforming education, transforming lives. It offers a comprehensive approach to schoolyard wetland habitats design, construction, and utilization.

This just in...Environmental Concern has recently joined forces with the American Zoo and Aquarium Association to help schools create Wildlife Friendly Schoolyards through The MARSH Project. Click here for more details about what this could mean for your school!

How The MARSH Project Works

Environmental Concern believes that the value of a schoolyard wetland habitat is measured by the number of eyes, hands, minds, and hearts it touches over time. The MARSH Project’s three-step method is designed to change the paradigm of one motivated teacher working in a vacuum to that of a school community working as a collective.

Step 1: Teacher Training
It follows that you can’t or won’t use a wetland habitat if you don’t know how. The wetland is not just an extension of the science lab, but part of every classroom subject. Using internationally acclaimed wetland curriculum guides WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands and POW! The Planning of Wetlands, a full-day, on-site professional development training is offered to teachers of all subject matter. During the course of the day, teachers will:

  • gain the knowledge, tools, and resources to fully utilize the wetland habitat as an integrated component of the entire curriculum;
  • understand the importance of schoolyard habitat use in the context of national and international pedagogy trends;
  • actively participate in preliminary design processes including site selection and goal setting.

Step 2: Habitat Design
An Environmental Concern Habitat Specialist, in concert with facility maintenance personnel, lead educators and chosen student leaders, conduct a thorough assessment of the schoolyard. All collected data is taken back to Environmental Concern’s headquarters and converted into a detailed design portfolio including:

  • technical drawings
  • topographic map
  • construction specifications
  • permit application information
  • plant list and planting plan
  • materials list
  • estimated budget
  • planting day instructional packet
  • maintenance plan.

Step 3: On-going Technical Support and Guidance
Environmental Concern Inc. is committed to success. Challenges, obstacles, questions and concerns are sure to arise. Whether it has to do with permits, construction, plants, continued maintenance, even help securing funding, our more than 33 years of wetland horticulture, construction and education experience is at your disposal. Call with any wetland concerns during the life of the wetland. In addition, all MARSH Project schools will have access to online discussion forums which will facilitate peer to peer collaboration. Environmental Concern also publishes a quarterly newsletter just for wetland educators. NOW! News on Wetlands is full of ideas and opportunities to help enhance wetland education programming.

For more information visit the Environmental Concern Web site or e-mail Bronwyn Mitchell.


Copyright© 2005 Environmental Concern Inc.