Date:  July 29, 2003
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720

 The Nokesville Elementary School Student Council Association and Parkside Middle School Science and Ecology Club were selected by the Prince William Clean Community Council as the Ecology Club of the Year for the 2002-2003 school year in the elementary and middle school categories.  Bel Air Elementary School Eco Kids received the 2003 Adopt-A-Spot award for their dedicated efforts in keeping their school clean, beautiful, and litter free.

Under the direction of Robin Lanham, the Nokesville Elementary School Ecology Club students focused on a nature trail enhancement project.  Every Tuesday, students would concentrate on the beautification of a section of the trail.   Over thirty families adopted spots along the trail, creating a sense of ownership with the trail and the school.  With project funding from the Student Council Association, a local environmental grant and donations, the club planted trees and fostered environmental stewardship throughout Nokesville.

The Parkside Middle School Science and Ecology Club under the direction of sponsor Ed Henthorn worked to beautify their school grounds. Through the years the club’s gardening efforts have been a major source of pride for the school. Students planted flower beds around the school sign and the building, moved and planted trees and picked up trash.  They also forced flower bulbs to grow indoors and gave them to their parents and teachers.  The Science and Ecology Club members also assisted an Eagle Scout with his courtyard project by spreading mulch.  The club also maintained an Adopt-A-Spot, engaged environmental education speakers and stressed enviro-shopping.        

 Parent volunteer Lori Dunivin was instrumental to the success of the Bel Air Elementary School Ecology Club.   She helped energize the students to “Take Back Our School” grounds from the drought and weeds.  Students spent the fall weeding, tilling, picking up trash, and pruning and mulching existing flowerbeds around the school.  The members decided to change the name of the Ecology Club to “Eco-Kidz! - Working Hard to Make a Difference.” 

Throughout the year, the students built on their initial cleanup efforts and designed an Animal Garden.  They prepared the soil, created a brick wall, planted a variety of animal friendly vegetation and mulched.  The garden houses a birdbath and birdfeeder for the birds as well as two small oak and birch logs for the bugs to call home.