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Henrico County sixth-graders will learn about watersheds and related ecosystems during the next three years as part of a partnership with Maymont.
The Maymont Foundation received a $449,224 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a partnership with Maymont. NOAA's Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) program funds locally relevant, authentic experiential learning through "meaningful watershed educational experiences," which include indoor and outdoor learning. The program aims to increase the understanding and stewardship of watersheds.
Other partners in the local effort include the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education, Henricopolis Soil and Water Conservation District and Keep Henrico Beautiful.
The project will engage about 7,200 students and 240 sixth-grade science and core content teachers at all 12 Henrico middle schools with a phased roll-out beginning with Short Pump, Rolfe, Elko and Hungary Creek middle schools in the first year. Officials hope that the program ultimately will grow into a sustainable one
In addition, Maymont is partnering with WCVE Science Matters, to produce videos that will feature teachers and students engaged in the project throughout the grant period. The segments will be shown on the Science Matters page of the WCVE website, the Maymont website and on all partner websites.
Most of the middle schools in Henrico are located within 10 miles of the James River and its various tributaries.
“We’re delighted to provide NOAA B-WET funding to support Maymont and its partners on this project,” said Sean Corson, acting director of the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office. “Their thoughtful approach to working environmental education into all sixth-grade classrooms will ensure that for years to come Henrico County middle school students will learn the skills necessary to be the next generation of Chesapeake Bay stewards.”
The project will be a significant component of a broader systemic program already underway in HCPS emphasizing science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) curriculum. Two-day professional development workshops, sample curriculum and supplemental online teacher training module provided by The VCU School of Education will extend to English, Math, Art and STEAM teachers, enabling teachers from multiple disciplines to work together in an immersive experience to incorporate conservation and stewardship into their classrooms.
“The Bay Watershed in Science Education program will allow Henrico students and teachers an opportunity to engage in the Henrico Deeper Learning pillars that state learning is anytime, anywhere; is authentic and connected; is student-owned, and, is community supported,” Henrico Superintendent Amy Cashwell said. “Throughout their Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience, students will be empowered with the knowledge, skills, attributes, and experiences to be stewards of our environment and, ultimately, life ready.”
Since 2002, NOAA has awarded more than $75 million to support more than 670 B-WET projects across seven areas of the country: California, Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes, Gulf of Mexico, Hawaii, New England, and the Pacific Northwest.
“We’re excited to be partnering with these remarkable organizations to serve both educators and young students in the local community,” said Parke Richeson, Maymont's executive director. “By providing hands-on field investigations here at Maymont, students will become more engaged in their learning and will gain an understanding of the environmental issues affecting our local watersheds. The impact of this project will be long-lasting because Maymont’s professional development workshops will make it possible for Henrico County Public Schools to provide sustainable educational experiences to students for many years to come.”
