Yuba Environmental Science Charter Academy Native Plant Trail
The California Native Plant Trail that Yuba Environmental Science (YES) Charter Academy students are developing is shaping up nicely with the addition of California fuchsia donated by Bald Mountain Nursery. Amy Edwards’ 3rd and 4th grade students work on the Native Plant Trail around their ten-acre campus as part of their year-long theme, Native Plants and Native Peoples. “Planting native plants has energized our school,” said 3rd grader Mikah Saiz.
Community experts help YES Charter Academy students with this project. Donella Patalon, forester and field biologist, mapped native trees and shrubs along the trail and taught native people’s uses for plants. Mike Hatherly, co-author of A Photo Guide to the Wildflowers of Dobbins and Oregon House, taught flower identification to students.
Red Bud Garden Club member and Master Gardener, Tena Brown, donated Milkweed seeds for a planned Monarch butterfly garden. Filake Farms donated organic soil amendments. Yuba Environmental Science Charter Academy third and fourth graders plant California fuchsia donated by Bald Mountain Nursery as part of the school’s Native Plant Trail.
Student work on the Native Plant Trail project is guided by three questions: How do humans live sustainably in the natural environment?
How does human activity impact the plants and animals in the natural environment? How are plants and animals adapted to the natural environment? “Native plants are better for the environment than non-native plants because they are food for native animals,” said Sofia Nelson, 4th grader.
In addition to developing the trail, students have written reports on native plants, gone on a field trip to a native plant garden, and made clay seed balls containing native wildflower seeds to cast out for naturalizing wildflowers.
Some of the native plants and trees found on the trail are Toyon Berry, Ponderosa Pine, Grey Pine, Blue Oak, Madrone, Manzanita, Coyote Bush, Soap Root, and a large stand of Elderberry.
Future plans for the Native Plant Trail project include installing signage, installing a trail camera, and printing a map and guide booklet. See more photos of the Yuba Environmental Science Charter Academy Native Plant Trail at the school’s website www.yescharteracademy.org.
Tierra Buena School On Monday, the 14th, the Fifth grade classes of Lacy Mccauley, Maria Smith and Amy Benato will take a field trip to the University of California, Davis Field Station.
The students in the Third grade classes of Bethany Whippo, Belinda Kimerer, and Katy Blasé will take a trip to the IMAX theater on the 15th.
Also on the 15th the Second graders in Shelby Cavazos, Charlene Delacerna, Jennifer Bartlett and Herschel Smith’s classes will visit Bishop’s Hamburger Farm.
Wednesday the 16th there will be a bicycle rodeo, promoting bicycle safety for the students in