Toshiba America Grant: Discussion of Alternatives

Discussion of Alternatives:
Deb Stevens held informational meetings with staff, partners, and students to determine Winchester Academy’s goals for Soar in its initial phase.  She has worked with Frank Rogers, the director of Cacapon Institute, over the past eight years; they walked the campus together to make an informal assessment of needs.  Deb held a grant workshop with staff after school and a series of planning meetings with the high school students and staff to determine the appropriate scope for Soar.  Additionally, she sent a proposal to a parent volunteer for review.   All parties or stake-holders agreed that the students need more integrated technology and relevant ‘greenscape’ projects for the campus.  During these discussions, some project ideas such as a green roof and permeable pavement were put on hold for this year.  Both projects require extensive research and planning to move forward and may be considered in the future.  Frank Rogers felt that given the present school population, the pavers were not necessary to accommodate overflow parking for events.  As the School grows, this solution may be necessary.  The roof must be assessed by an engineer before attempting to install a green roof on the flat portion.  Additionally, the cost and transport of the special soil needed may prove to be an obstacle and requires more research.
Winchester Academy does not have an environmental program presently.  Upon consultation with the stake-holders, Soar should build the program in stages.  The first logical step is to create base-line data, collect maps and satellite images, and introduce students to some basic environmental principles, such as watershed dynamics or hydrology.  Energy as a theme was considered because there are many topics, projects, and curriculum available for students in grades 6-12.  Instead, Watershed  was selected as a theme because it helps students understand their local community and ecosystem through the study of local watersheds in the context of the Chesapeake Bay.  Additionally, Deb Stevens has a number of contacts and resources pertaining to watershed dynamics.  For several years, she took part in the WV Watershed Dynamics Project and decided that GLOBE’s Chesapeake Bay Watershed Dynamics project would be a good way to launch a comprehensive environmental program at Winchester Academy.  Additionally, Deb took part in Northwestern University’s LATE program several years ago and a GIS program through West Virginia University more recently.  GLOBE’s project offers Fieldscope which would add a GIS component without the cost of ESRI’s Arcview software.
Lastly, the main consideration was how to effectively integrate user friendly, low cost technology.  Most of the program’s funds are ear-marked for tools, trees, water-testing equipment.  Any technology has to be suitable for data collection; both Vernier and Pasco sensors have their pros and cons.  Deb decided to include both types but limit the number of interfaces and sensors: temperature, pH, and conductivity.  She has one dissolved oxygen probe on hand.  Instead , funds will go toward kick seines, a secchi disk, tennis balls, and ice-cube trays needed to do field work at a stream.  Winchester Academy students bring their own devices and graphing calculators to school; there are several TI 84 calculators, iPads, and laptops available to cobble together enough devices to collect data.
So, in the end, the project will use as many free programs, apps, and on-line activities for instruction as possible.  Students will plan two planting days in the fall and spring, select the trees, build raised beds and a greenhouse, take part in stream assays, and work with Cacapon Institute both on its e-school and with representatives, live.  Our goal is to improve the campus, incorporate environmental studies into the curriculum effectively, and develop student leaders interested in citizen science.