Highland Conservancy

Food Banks Need Help by Katheryn Krupa

Community Share, Gleaners and other food banks are reporting a 25% increase of folks in need. This past summer the Highland Conservancy worked with Highland United Methodist Church to start a community garden.  We grew organic food that was then donated to area food banks.  Now we are urging you to search your cupboards and see what canned goods or food (no glass) you can donate.  Toiletries and healthy foods are especially needed such as peanut butter, canned tuna, beef stew, soup, vegetables or fruit, pancake mix, rice, cereal, noodles, nuts, sugar, juice or flour.  Highland United Methodist Church in Highland will be taking food over at least once a month throughout the year.  So please drop off a donation there, or we can come pick up food donations anytime: Call Katheryn at 248-887-4643.  You can also drop off your donations directly to:  Gleaners Community Food Bank at 5924 Sterling Drive, Howell, MI 48843 or Community Share located at the former Apollo Elementary School on 2029 N. Milford Road, north of M59.  Thank you for your help!

Renewable Energy by Katheryn Krupa

 

As I leave school each night I pass by the solar panel sitting outside fifth grade teacher Chris McAuliffe's classroom at Oxbow Community School in White Lake, Michigan.  Even on cloudy days the panel stores energy in several batteries for use in his classroom.  It reminds me that we have a long, long way to go to do a better job at utilizing renewable energy.  I am hopeful that our new president will work to promote what already is available out there such as wind turbines and solar power.  We do not need to rely so heavily on fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal that leave a huge, destructive carbon footprint.  Let's step more softly and gracefully as we live our lives and be mindful of how our actions affect the earth!  For more information, visit: www.theclimateproject.org/climatenews.php  

Environmental Art a Hit by Katheryn Krupa

At our recent art teacher inservice, Huron Valley Art teacher Denise Forrest shared how she took the bold step of creating environmental art with her Country Oaks Elementary students.  Following in the footsteps of artist Andy Goldsworthy, earlier this spring she invited her students to explore the fields, woods, and land surrounding the school to gather their "materials".  In teams of two to four, the children then created their own sculptures and amazing artwork using leaves, grass, dandelions, tall fronds of Phragmites, sticks and stones.  The results were outstanding works of eco-art meant to naturally biodegrade.  She also showed a DVD of Goldsworthy's art that was awe inspiring!  It depicted the artist carefully and reverently working to create his natural sculptures.  "With today's fast paced society, our students need to learn how to take time to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty of the outdoors.  This was an excellent opportunity for them and one they truly enjoyed," reported Forrest. 

CLIMATE CHANGE IS LEGO LEAGUE CHALLENGE by Katheryn Krupa

Sub Zero Survivors - Oxbow Community School 

This year's Lego League challenge is the issue of climate change.  Our local area boasts several teams, top among them being the Muir Middle School, Oxbow Elementary and Charyl Stockwell Academy teams.  Charyl Stockwell will be competing at State in mid December!  Oxbow's Sub Zero Survivors placed 5th overall at State and the Incredible Ice Breaker's robot placed 16th out of 48 teams -very impressive! The work all these teams have done is nothing short of amazing to me.  They visited weather stations, interviewed key advisors on issues related to climate change and done some top notch research. Whether they win or not is not as important in my view as the knowledge they are gaining in how to work as a team to create and accomplish something, as well as what they are learning about climate change.  Our earth is facing an impending crisis of monumental proportions if we (or more likely our children) don't do something to turn things around soon.  These fifth through eighth graders are researching everything from rising oceans to habitat change to destructive changes in the earth's atmosphere.

Pictured above, Legolution from Charyl Stockwell Academy 

  

Incredible Ice Breakers - Oxbow Community School