For the Alcoa W5 project, students from the Boonville High School in the United States decided to renovate the most enjoyed and admired feature of their schoolyard, the pond!
To renovate the pond, the high schoolers decided to upgrade it and improve its surrounding areas. The old pond was not holding water adequately and the filtration system was not thoroughly cleaning the water. To fix this, the students decided to include biofiltering in the pond and to put a new liner and skimmer. A handyman was employed to install the plumbing and electric. The students also used rocks to construct a waterfall and to finish out the edging of the pond.
“I enjoyed collaborating with the teacher and watching her interact with her students on this project. The students were very polite and helpful. I was very satisfied with the finished project” - Handyman who installed the pond’s filtration system.
Remodelling the pond provided clean reliable water for the local wildlife. It is used by squirrels, birds, butterflies, and turtles as a source of water. In addition, students will add six native fish to the pond at the beginning of next school year. Finally, 12 pollinator plants were installed around the pond to improve biodiversity.
The students’ educational experience was enhanced in multiple ways by participating in the construction and maintenance of the pond. For example, they learned about rock identification, water flow, soil studies, aquatic plant life. On any lovely weather day, but especially during the times of COVID, this project provided joy and stress relief for the high schoolers. This project also taught them the simple pleasure and satisfaction of doing physical labor outside that resulted in a beautiful and completed project. Overall, this practical stewardship experience increased their life skills and improved their relationship with nature.
“It is hard to put into words the enthusiasm and happiness that most of my students displayed when they knew we would be working outside on this project. It was an uplifting experience for me to watch them become absorbed in the project either through creativity and/or physical activity. It was learning at its best.”
- Rebecca Schnur, teacher.
The Alcoa W5 project at Boonville High School support the following SDGs:
