Birdneck Elementary School received a very special delivery from Amazon.
More than a dozen of the company’s employees arrived at the end of the school day Sept. 11 with lots of gardening supplies.
Alongside school staff volunteers, they built learning tables and raised garden beds, plus shoveled dirt and spread gravel. Within a few hours, a new outdoor learning garden was ready to go.
Gifted resource teacher Gail Campbell was grateful to Amazon for helping make their dream come true.
“This is part of an exciting new chapter in our school’s history,” she said. She described the project as a “fantastic student environmental stewardship endeavor.”
VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. stopped by to thank Amazon and school volunteers for their efforts.
Students will have authentic hands-on learning experiences, Campbell said. The new 30-by 45-foot area behind the school will benefit all grade levels and subjects.
“This is their garden,” Campbell said.
Second grade teacher Claire Calkins said her students will learn all about the life cycle of plants. “They’ll be able to see it right in front of them,” she said.
Students will research and decide which plants and vegetables to grow based on the time of year and eventually prepare the harvest for tasting. The plan includes growing herbs and vegetables to be used by the cafeteria staff in school food preparation.
They also plan to host special guests – such as master gardeners –so students can learn from local gardening experts.
The idea for an outside learning garden has been in the works since the pandemic. Campbell said the plan was to piece the project together as funding and donations were secured.
Then came Amazon. Campbell connected with Stage Area Manager Amy Torres and the rest is history. The company’s new delivery station is set to open soon at the intersection of Harpers and Dam Neck roads.
Employees volunteered as part of Amazon’s “Day of Service.” The company not only provided manpower, but barrel planters, shepherd hooks for hanging planters, wheelbarrows, gardening tools, learning tables, soil and gravel to make the garden wheelchair accessible.
Campbell also thanked Sunbelt Rentals for donating a sod cutter to prepare the area, a grant from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund to purchase four galvanized raised garden beds, and Home Depot and Grace Bible Church for supplies.
Amazon Operations Manager Dwight Tennyson concentrated on putting together a learning table. “We are excited that we are being welcomed into the community,” he said.
Torres and Tennyson are VBCPS graduates. Tennyson said it’s extra special to give back to his hometown.
“Amazon is committed to making a positive impact on the communities where we live and work,” Torres said.
Campbell thanked the school’s new partner-in-education.
“Amazon brought it all together for us,” she said.