At the Green School Awards Luncheon, ASE gave a $500 Judge’s Choice award for HABITAT RESTORATION to Jupiter Middle School. This grant rewarded their efforts to create an outdoor learning lab in a 2 and1/4 acre wetland and natural area between school property and Military Trail. The mission of the outdoor classroom is to provide in-field experiences for student learning, focusing on wetland ecology, collecting, analyzing data and problem solving.

With enthusiastic support from their principal Cheryl Huey, and approval from the School District Risk Management Department, they set about the task of upgrading the 2 ¼ acres by holding a community Saturday Clean- up Day to remove exotics and debris. They identified curriculum goals and won $6500 in grants which paid for waters, nets, rubber boots, teacher training and student field trips.

Seventy Palm Beach and Martin County schools participated in the Green Schools program and competed for cash prizes.

To learn more go to www.ourgreenschools.com