Salmonberry elementary school students joined the San Juan County Land Bank’s volunteers in a reforestation and wetland habitat restoration project at the Beaverton Valley Marsh Preserve on San Juan Island on May 12. Madrona Murphy led the group as project coordinator for this site.
The Salmonberry students were out to fulfill a pledge made last December during their Christmas Tree sales fundraiser, to plant one tree for every cut tree sold. This promise to replant was 100% fulfilled during this restoration work.
The Beaverton Valley Marsh Preserve includes a large tract of land that has been used for hay and pasture for many decades. It also includes an adjoining wetland with striking biodiversity and an apparently healthy and thriving ecosystem. The goal of this planting was to begin the work of returning the pastureland to critical wetland habitat for some rare plants and animals.
The Salmonberry students spent a full day at the site and planted crab apple trees, two species of willows and salmonberries. It was hard, hot work for these 17 children ages 6-10, but very satisfying.
“The stark contrast between very pretty farm land and healthy wetland ecosystem was amazing,” said Salmonberry teacher and Director Paul Freedman. “It was a perfect example of what experiential learning is all about. Rather than learning about habitat, ecology and restoration work we were living it, with our toes in the mud. Service learning continues to be an integral part of Salmonberry’s curriculum and service projects that incorporate principles of sustainability are our highest priority.”
Two days later, many of the same Salmonberry students could be seen at Fishing Bay, getting wet and dirty again. This time the group collected trash on the beach, which they sorted and classified as part of a project in conjunction with the Friends of the San Juans. They also collected, sorted and analyzed a sample of micro-trash in a simulation of a recent San Juan County Beach Watchers project.
“The kids learn so much doing this kind of hands-on field work even at a young age. So many skills are integrated, and all so deeply connected to meaningful work. It reminds me of John Dewey’s famous quote, ‘education shouldn’t be merely a preparation for life. It is life.’,” said Freedman.
