Project Description: The project began with an inquiry about a watershed, which led to
further questions and on-site investigations of the Dutton Community
and Plaster Creek at Shady Side Park. Students studied stormwater
runoff in their community and built models of their community. The
learning also included a trip to the mouth of Plaster Creek.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Working with community partners has helped students see the
importance of working together to achieve great things for the common good.
Partners: Calvin College - Plaster Creek Stewards, MDEQ
Teachers: 1
Students: 28
Funder: Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative
Project Description: Dutton Elementary School has implemented a three-phase plan to
create an outdoor learning center, native plant garden, and new
playground. In Phase 1, the spring of 2016, students planted two small
native vegetation gardens as seed gardens. Prior to planning and
planting the rain garden, the students learned about watersheds, from
their local stream to the Great Lakes, by observing the local storm
drains along the sidewalks of Dutton, then taking a field trip to
downtown Grand Rapids where the creek meets the Grand River. Students
were able to see how the choices of upstream members effect the
downstream partners. Students also studied collected and studied
macroinvertebrates at a local park.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: This project provided students with the understanding that their
state has the largest body of fresh water in the world, and helped
them understand the relationship between privilege and responsibility
we have in Michigan.
Partners: Plaster Creek Stewards, MDEQ, WMEAC, Gootjes Landscape, Dutton
Fire Department
Teachers: 2
Students: 45
Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality
Project Description: In its second year, the project expanded to include fourth- and
fifth-graders. These students renovated a concrete breezeway by
planting two native gardens to filter water before it washed down a
nearby storm drain. Second-graders maintained the native plants in the
school greenhouse until they were ready to be planted outdoors.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students speak to each other, to adults and to others in the
community about nonpoint source pollution. They understand cause and
effect and have taken ownership of the school grounds and are
concerned about potential pollution in the community as they observe
while walking down the sidewalks.
Partners: Plaster Creek Stewards, Department of Environmental Quality,
Gootjes Landscaping, Dutton Fire Department, Leisure Creek Condominiums
Teachers: 4
Students: 170
Funder: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the Michigan
Department of Environmental Quality
Project Description: Dutton Elementary School completed the first section of Phase Two
of the rain garden outdoor learning project. This school year,
fifth-grade students planted two rain gardens on the south side of our
building. These two rain gardens form the east and west end of the
school's nature trail, with plans to connect these two gardens with a
trail of plants, stepping stones, trees and a walking path. The
second-graders took seeds from the rain garden seed beds from the last
couple of years. They harvested, planted, nurtured, and learned about
plants throughout the year. Even though the greenhouse malfunctioned
and left only nine surviving plants, students learned about problem
solving and second chances for the following year.
Fostering Lifelong Stewardship: Students are more aware of the importance of healthy water
quality. Students are talking about water quality and the impact of
human environment interactions. Students speak to each other, to
adults and to others in the community about non-point source
pollution. They understand cause and effect and have taken ownership
of the school grounds and are concerned about potential pollution in
the community as they observe while walking down the sidewalks.
Partners: Plaster Creek Stewards, MDEQ, Gootjes Landscaping
