Overcoming & Avoiding Schoolyard Habitat Obstacles
 Schoolyard habitat projects are exciting and offer proven benefits to students, teachers, the community and the environment. However, at some point most people involved with a habitat project find themselves faced with an obstacle of one kind or another. Frequently, this can result in a great deal of wasted time and effort as a solution is sought. The key to overcoming and avoiding obstacles is first to realize that in most cases, someone else has already dealt with the same problem and advice is available -- there's no need to "recreate the wheel." The MAEOE Schoolyard Habitat How to Create a Habitat Project page is designed to provide detailed instructions and information to help make your habitat project a success. In addition, check out the five most common obstacles and solutions below.
1. RECIPE FOR DISASTER... OR SUCCESS: PICKING AN APPROPRIATE PROJECT
It's easy to get caught up in the excitement of choosing a habitat project, but if you don't pick a project that is appropriate for the specific conditions and needs of your particular schoolyard you're setting yourself up for disaster. For example, planting a rain garden in the middle of a field in full sun with no water source is probably going to turn out badly. Here are some tips and resources to help you choose a project:
• How to assess your schoolyard for an appropriate project
• Types of habitat projects
• How to choose & find native plants
2. WORKING WITH YOUR MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
Perhaps one of the most common issues with schoolyard habitat projects involves a school's maintenance or facilities department. If your maintenance staff is concerned about having schoolyard habitats at your school, they may have legitimate reasons for their concerns.
COMMON OBSTACLE : Traditional Landscaping vs. "Naturalized" Areas :
While you and your students may see the intrinsic value of restoring or creating habitat for wildlife and environmental health, your maintenance staff may have a different view of "naturalized" areas. Many people have become accustomed to traditional, neat landscaping and may complain to the maintenance staff that these naturalized areas are eyesores.
SOLUTION :
- Involve maintenance from the start in your project decisions. Always consider maintenance staff as part of your team. No one is more knowledgeable about your school grounds than your maintenance staff. Perhaps they know of problem areas that a habitat project could address, such as an area where runoff collects and leaks into the school building or a spot that's particularly difficult to mow.
- Choose a location that is appropriate for your project. Talk with your administrators and maintenance staff about the project you are planning and where an appropriate and acceptable location may be. Certain areas that seem to be a perfect choice for your project may cause headaches for others. For example, a wild meadow may not be the best option for the front entrance of your school. Likewise, a native wildlife habitat or brushpile in the middle of the school's front lawn may not be a popular choice.
- Use signs and borders. Sometimes all it takes to help someone to recognize an area as a habitat project is a sign identifying it as such. These can range from handmade signs created by your students to those you have purchased. Add a "No Mow Zone" sign for good measure. Furthermore, a border will not only help distinguish a project area, but can prevent an accidental mow-down. Again, borders can range from natural items, such as rocks, firewood or driftwood, to purchased items, such as railroad ties or fencing. Habitat features such as paths, benches and artwork can also distinguish your project and make it more inviting to human visitors.
COMMON OBSTACLE: My project got mowed down!
Honestly, at one point or another, you will probably run into this problem. However, there are several steps you can take to try to prevent a mow-down:
- Involve maintenance from the start in your project decisions. Always consider maintenance staff a part of your team. Perhaps they can direct you to a spot that's a nuisance for them to mow. At the very least, if they are aware of what and where your project is, they will be more likely not to inadvertently mow it down. If you're only working with one person on the maintenance staff, it's a good idea to ask them to let others on the staff know about your project as well, particularly if different staff come in for the summer.
- Use signs and borders. Sometimes all it takes to help someone to recognize an area as a habitat project is a sign identifying it as such. These can range from handmade signs created by your students to those you have purchased. Add a "No Mow Zone" sign for good measure. Furthermore, a border will not only help distinguish a project area, but can prevent an accidental mow-down. Again, borders can range from natural items, such as rocks, firewood or driftwood, to purchased items, such as railroad ties or fencing. Habitat features such as paths, benches and artwork can also distinguish your project and make it more inviting to human visitors.
COMMON OBSTACLE: Abandoned or neglected projects.
One of the most common reasons maintenance personnel dread schoolyard habitat projects is that they have been burned before. Poorly planned projects may still get in the ground, but without a solid plan for maintenance and use, these projects are destined to become neglected or abandoned in the long run. Not only is it sad to see all that time and effort go to waste, but failed habitat projects set a bad precedent and make it infinitely more difficult for anyone else to get permission to create a project.
SOLUTION :
3. I JUST DON'T HAVE TIME TO DO A HABITAT PROJECT
COMMON OBSTACLE: No time to find and fill out grant applications
COMMON OBSTACLE: I don't have time for anything extra, but I have no idea how t o tie a habitat project into my curriculum!
• Long-Term Connections: Curriculum
4. ONCE WE'RE FINISHED CREATING THE PROJECT, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONLY ONE TAKING CARE OF IT.
• How to publicize your project and involve your community
• Long-Term Connections: Maintenance
• Keep using the project! Long Term Connections: Curriculum
5. HOW DO I CONVINCE MY ADMINISTRATOR THAT A HABITAT PROJECT WILL BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR STUDENTS (AND NOT AN EYESORE)
Understandably, administrators are concerned that any project taken on by teachers and students enhances academic goals. Furthermore, in the case of schoolyard habitat projects, administrators are also concerned about the aesthetics of a project.
- Choose a location that is appropriate for your project. Talk with your administrators and maintenance staff about the project you are planning and where an appropriate and acceptable location may be. Certain areas that seem to be a perfect choice for your project may cause headaches for others. For example, a wild meadow may not be the best option for the front entrance of your school. Likewise, a native wildlife habitat or brushpile in the middle of the school's front lawn may not be a popular choice.
- Share the proven benefits of schoolyard habitat projects with your administrator: When designed, implemented and utilized properly, schoolyard habitat projects can make learning literally come alive for students as they meet curricular goals through engaging, hands-on experiences. Even beyond this, schoolyard habitat projects offer many other valuable benefits:
GENERAL SUGGESTIONS :
BE PROACTIVE! Don't wait for a problem to occur, avoiding a problem is easier than fixing it.
PLAN! Follow the steps on our How to Create a Habitat Project page to make your project a success.
RELAX! You can do it! |
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