Rye Lake Lower Campus celebrates Earth Day with Bees & Flowers and fun

Garden Committee stages activities to engage students in range of activities

The Rye Lake Lower Campus Garden Committee staged an Earth Day celebration, replete with seed planting, cold lemonade, decorations made of recycled materials, and a Bees & Flowers theme. With the sun shining and the mercury reaching 70 degrees, it was a perfect spring day for students and staff to take their learning outside.

The indoor-outdoor activities allowed students in the TSP-I and AIIM programs to celebrate consecutively with music, dancing and treats ranging from fresh fruit to cake.

The planting station allowed students to get their hands dirty, taking turns watering top soil, spreading it in planters, and carefully placing seeds of many varieties. The craftiness of each class was highlighted by larger-than-life flowers and bumblebees designed and constructed by re-using a variety of materials. Assistant Principal Nick Villano explained that students contributed by designing and creating the décor representing each class, and they experienced the process of planting firsthand.

“This was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Earth Day by engaging students in multiple activities that required them to make creative decisions and participate directly and thoughtfully,” Mr. Villano said.

Several SWBOCES Administrators joined the celebration. Every student, was given a Butterfly Kit to let them experience the lifecycle of a butterfly at home. Principal Julia Dolan said the day was a rewarding experience for students and staff.

“Our Garden Committee works hard year-round to develop engaging instructional experiences for our students,” Ms. Dolan said. “Celebrating Earth Day in this way is a natural continuation of that work, and I was delighted to see how much our students enjoyed themselves on this beautiful spring day.”