The Very First Post

This blog is for the students, by the students but let me first introduce the MHS STEM Academy and some of our major projects. We have ambitious but doable goals and the intent of this blog is to document the progress, the obstacles and the blood, sweat and tears. (Hopefully no blood and tears, of course! But there will definitely be some sweat...) A major focus of our attention right now is the revitalization of Rand Park. It's a joint effort between the architecture club students and the STEM small learning community. We have been researching and planning/drawing designs for wildlife habitats and an outdoor classroom. Because Rand Park is a township park, we need approval from the town. We will be presenting to the mayor, town council and the parks/recreation department on Weds May 14th...we will be sure to blog about it! Here are a few pictures of the "before" Rand Park.

 Toney's Brook cuts through Rand Park. We have designed a series of riparian pollinator gardens...the only thing growing there now is Japanese knotweed.

There is a steep slope in a region of the Park off of Chestnut St. to Toney's Brook. STEM students have studied the area and are designing a garden to control erosion.

Erosion! Steep slope! And poor soil conditions/lots of roots...STEM problem-solving skills to the rescue.

This is the proposed site for our bird habitat. There are often crows in Rand Park. We like crows but we'd also like to attract many passerines. 

Japanese knotweed peaking through the rocky brook bottom. The town removed the knotweed in the fall but it is a tenacious plant. We want to plant natives that will hopefully crowd it out.

Here are some happy STEMmers!