Invasive Species Presentation

Click on photo to open this presentation about invasive species on grounds of Gunston Middle School.

ACE Watershed Organization Presentation

This group has provided my students with great resources over the past several years.

E. coli data from Four MIle Run including Lower Long Branch at Troy park

These graphs contain volunteer-collected E.coli data from January 2010 until April 2012 in several  tributaries of Four Mile Run in Arlington, VA.
The blue line indicates bacteria levels; the red line represents the primary contact recreation water quality standard, and the green line represents the secondary contact recreation water quality standard.

The state of Virginia has set a numeric water quality standard of 235 E. coli CFU.100 ml to safely do swimming, canoeing, and kayaking.  The state has set a numeric water quality standard of 1173 E. coli CFU/100 ml to safely do wading, boating, and fishing.

Here is the link to the graphs, which are not considered laboratory-quality but are useful in identifying potential areas of concern and of further research.

http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/EnvironmentalServices/sustainability/page83733.aspx

Noticeable are the very high level of bacteria in February of 2012 and then the very low level of bacteria of lower Long Branch on 4/1/12.  It makes me wonder what happened to cause that sudden spike in bacteria level?

Troy Park Clean Up with ACE on Nov. 2/12

On Nov. 2nd, from 2:30pm until 4pm, 15 of my students and several parents participated in this event with the support of Ms Strauss, from ACE.  Ms Strauss provided snacks, gloves, and bags for the event.  Here are some pictures.  Some boys found a dead snake and they were fascinated by it, as you can see in the last picture below.

Wetland Learning Lab at Campbell Elementary School

FYI, the Wetlands Learning Lab at Campbell Elementary School is built and was planted on Oct. 13th.  This project was supported by NoVA Outside ad CANN-- a great community project!

Hope we can visit it soon,

Luz

From: apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com [apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com] on behalf of haneyjessica [haneyjessica@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2012 3:55 PM
To: apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [APS Green Schools] Success! Campbell Wetlands to be planted this weekend!

After lots of fundraising and many unanticipated delays, I'm pleased to share that the Wetlands Learning Lab at Campbell Elementary has finally been built and is being planted tomorrow/Saturday.

More info is at
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/reading-ingredients-tales-health-conscious-mom/2012/oct/12/arlington-school-host-planting-day-complete-wetlan/

There will be a public celebration in the spring but I wanted to let folks know about tomorrow's Big Plant event. Thanks to Nancy Striniste of NoVA Outside and CANN for having the vision for this important project and seeing it through, and to everyone else who has supported the project. It's been a huge community effort, and it's going to be wonderful!

Jessica, Campbell parent

__._,_.___

Reuse and Repurpose Craft Fair

Looking for ideas on how to reuse some common items in your house.  Here is an opportunity to get some ideas on Saturday, Nov. 10th from 1-3pm at Washington-Lee High School

Enjoy!

Luz

From: apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com [apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com] on behalf of Joan Kelsch [jkelsch@arlingtonva.us]
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2012 3:38 PM
To: apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [APS Green Schools] Reuse and Repurpose Craft Fair Nov 10

 

Think Outside the Bin: Reuse and Repurpose Craft Fair

Saturday, November 10 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Washington-Lee High School cafeteria, 1301 N. Stafford St. Arlington. 

 

Calling all Pinterest addicts! Looking for some fun craft projects for the holidays or some ways to reuse common items like magazines, bottles, and jars to make cool gifts or holiday decorations? Come to this fair to get inspired with ideas for decorating, gifts, and re-purposing things you already own in a fun way!  There will be some projects to do on site and some kid-friendly projects as well. Organized by Arlington County Department of Environmental Services and the Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions in partnership with ACE. Register online.

 

http://freshaireva.us/ai1ec_event/think-outside-the-bin-reuse-and-repurpose-craft-fair/?instance_id=113

 

 

 

 

Joan B. Kelsch ,  LEED AP

Green Building Programs Manager

AIRE Program Co-Manager

Arlington County Government

2100 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 705

Arlington, VA 22201

703-228-3599

www.freshaireva.us

 

Stream Monitoring at Bull Run - 10/14/12

Aaron, Morlay and I did stream study of macroinvertebrates at Bull Run.  This was a much wider stream than the stream at Troy Park and the stream at Lubber Run.

Invasive Plant Removal at Haley Park - Nov 3rd

Subject: HOG Pull, Sat., Nov. 3, 9-11 AM, Haley Park

HOG Pull, Sat., November 3, 9-11 AM Haley Park

Haley Park, Oakridge Elementary School, Gunston Middle School Invasive Plant Pull]

Meet at Haley Park,

2400 S. Meade St., Arlington, VA 22202

 

 Bring:

Appropriate clothing, including good footware.

    Some parts of the area are steep and contain poison ivy.

Gloves

Tools - weeders, clippers, whackers, small saws

Drinking water

We will provide extra tools if you don't have any of your own.

This is a continuing project on the first Saturday of each month to reclaim the natural area between Haley Park, Oakridge Elementary School and Gunston Middle School from invasive plants.

This is a RiP and ARMN approved project.

Contacts:

Marti Klein, cummingslc@aol.com

Jennifer Frum, frumjb@gmail.com

Mary Ann Lawler, malawler0@gmail.com

Bill McLaughlin, billmcnative@gmail.com

Green Schools Networking Event at Central Library- Nov. 7th

From: apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com [apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com] on behalf of Elenor Hodges [elenor@arlingtonenvironment.org]
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2012 2:06 PM
To: apsgreenschools@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [APS Green Schools] 11/7 - Green Schools Networking Event

 

Please join us and help spread the word at your school!

Green Schools Networking Event. Wednesday, November 7, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street, Arlington, VA.  Meet in 2nd floor meeting room.  Join us for an informal evening of networking and resource sharing for anyone (parents, teachers or students) who is organizing a green project at their school. We are especially targeting people who are involved in a green PTA committee but all are welcome. The topics we discuss will be generated by those that attend and may include recycling, outdoor gardens, composting, after-school environmental clubs, reducing paper in backpack folders, reducing waste at school parties and events, and more. Organized by Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment in collaboration with the APS Sustainability Committee that reports to the superintendent.  More information: elenor@arlingtonenvironment.org or 703-228-6427.

Elenor Hodges
Executive Director

 

Troy Park stream monitoring on Oct. 14/12

Aaron, Morlay and I worked hard doing 3 stream studies of macroinvertebrates.  We started with Aaron's stream, then we proceeded to do the stream at Troy Park, which is very near Gunston Middle School.  Here are some pictures of us working.

Ms. Chamorro's Science students and AMERICORPS pull out invasive plants

Today I had my 6th graders work with AMERICORPS.  My 5 classes pulled invasive plants from Haley Park, which is between Gunston Middle School and Oakridge Elementary School - about 105 students.  My students researched invasive plants in Virginia before the event today, so that increased their enthusiasm for pulling out these plants!  They absolutely loved being outdoors and enjoyed doing something good for the environment.  Mary Van Dyke and HOG volunteers also joined us.  We are planning on having another invasive plant removal day on Earth Day 2013.

Garlic Mustard Video - Invasive Plants

Check out this good video on this invasive plant - Garlic Mustard.  ACE has a good invasive plant program through which they train volunteers to lead invasive plant removal events in the community.

Americorps and ACE host one of these plant removal events at the woods behind Gunston Middle School on the first Saturday of every month.


Click on"Invasive Plant Program" at the bottom of this page and you can watch the video.

http://arlingtonenvironment.org/getinvolved/

Barcroft Park Stream Clean Up - 9/15/12

Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE) is organizing a stream clean up at Barcroft Park in Arlington, VA on Saturday, Sep. 15th from 1pm to 3pm.  I have invited my 6th grade students to participate with their families.  This will be a great opportunity for my students to connect with ACE and with their school environment.
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF A FEW OF MY 25 STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE STREAM CLEAN UP AT BARCROFT PARK. One of my students found a bycicle and took it home to fix it to then donate it.

FMR Restoration Master Plan

Here is a link to the FMR restoration master plan from Alexandria city governments website.

Welcome!

This new blog features the Four Mile Watershed, especially the area around Gunston Middle School in Arlington, VA.