A portion of the playground at George Kennedy Public School in Georgetown was prone to flooding and to solve the problem, a rain garden was installed that has become a valuable teaching tool for students.
This year, the school partnered with Credit Valley Conservation, with support from Canon Canada, who helped build the rain garden. Prior to construction, the organization hosted workshops and taught students about the value of a rain garden, the benefits they provide to the surrounding environment and how it can help the community better understand climate change. The garden also helped address a flooding issue on the property.
Principal Erin Keen says rain gardens are a type of low impact development that help areas adapt to climate change. She says this project has brought students together as they learn about climate resiliency and helped plant many of the 1,000 pieces of vegetation that currently exist in the rain garden.
“We are seeing more and heavier rainfall and our rain garden will slow down, soak up and filter rainwater from nearby yards, rooftops, sports fields and parking lots,” she says. “As the water flows into the garden, the plants and layers of soil clean and absorb the water allowing it to soak into the ground. Rain gardens help keep our streams, rivers and lakes clean while reducing localized flooding. They reduce pressure on municipal stormwater systems, improve school grounds and build climate change resilience in our communities.”
More than 1,000 plants were planted in the rain garden, including Swale Plants, Meadow Plants and Woodland plants in addition to approximately 90 trees and shrubs such as sugar maple, ironwood, bur oak, tulip tree, dogwood and pussy willow.
Students at the school were thrilled to be a part of the construction of the rain garden.
“My favourite part during the rain garden presentation was when I learned about the plants in the rain garden and what animals we will see like bees, squirrels, birds,” says one Grade 5 student.
Another Grade 5 student stated: “Once we were done planting and got back to class, I was so happy I got to help the earth and the school. I am so excited to come back in the future and know that I helped the environment and all the animals.”
“Students explored the concept of their watershed and the exciting new rain garden that would be installed on their property,” says Amanda Slaght with the Credit Valley Conservation. “Through engaging stories and games, students discovered the significance and benefits of rain gardens.”
The rain garden project was warmly welcomed by the school community, Keen says.
“This project has been an incredible learning opportunity for our students, staff and community,” she explains. “The workshops provided our staff and students with an understanding of how a rain garden works. They were able to participate in the planting of the rain garden - taking pride in the new learning space - and many parents said how excited their children were about the installation of the rain garden and shared their knowledge with families at home.”
Rachel Irwin, the HDSB’s Environmental Sustainability Manager, is thrilled that the HDSB was able to take part in this unique initiative. She says the rain garden ties directly to the Environmental Leadership goals of the Board’s
Multi-Year Plan, and the commitment to sustainable development.
“By creating this rain garden, we are designing and managing learning spaces that not only address environmental challenges but also create interactive outdoor learning spaces that deepen opportunities for staff and students to engage and learn about the natural world,” she says. “Together, we are designing schoolyards that are more than just playing fields - we’re creating resilient spaces that foster biodiversity and encourage students to become environmental leaders.”
