{"id":12574,"date":"2024-09-20T09:32:34","date_gmt":"2024-09-20T13:32:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=12574"},"modified":"2024-09-20T09:32:34","modified_gmt":"2024-09-20T13:32:34","slug":"amazon-plants-learning-garden-at-birdneck-elementary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/amazon-plants-learning-garden-at-birdneck-elementary\/","title":{"rendered":"Amazon plants learning garden at Birdneck Elementary"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Birdneck Elementary staff and Amazon employees joined forces to make an outdoor learning garden at the school.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Cindy Butler Focke<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Birdneck Elementary gifted resource teacher Gail Campbell headed up the plan for an outdoor learning garden. With help from Amazon and school volunteers, they made it happen.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Birdneck Elementary School received a very special delivery from Amazon.<\/p>\n

More than a dozen of the company\u2019s employees arrived at the end of the school day Sept. 11 with lots of gardening supplies.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Gifted resource teacher Gail Campbell was grateful to Amazon for helping make their dream come true.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is part of an exciting new chapter in our school\u2019s history,\u201d she said. She described the project as a \u201cfantastic student environmental stewardship endeavor.\u201d<\/p>\n

VBCPS Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. \u00a0stopped by to thank Amazon and school volunteers for their efforts.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is their garden,\u201d Campbell said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Amazon will soon open a new delivery station near Birdneck Elementary. Operations Manager Dwight Tennyson said Amazon was happy to give back to the community by helping with the school\u2019s outdoor learning garden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Second grade teacher Claire Calkins said her students will learn all about the life cycle of plants. \u201cThey\u2019ll be able to see it right in front of them,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

They also plan to host special guests \u2013 such as master gardeners \u2013so students can learn from local gardening experts.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Then came Amazon. Campbell connected with Stage Area Manager Amy Torres and the rest is history. The company\u2019s new delivery station is set to open soon at the intersection of Harpers and Dam Neck roads.<\/p>\n

Employees volunteered as part of Amazon\u2019s \u201cDay of Service.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Amazon employees Chris Bender,left, and Cory Clark helped put together tables for Birdneck Elementary\u2019s outdoor learning garden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Amazon Operations Manager Dwight Tennyson concentrated on putting together a learning table. \u201cWe are excited that we are being welcomed into the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Torres and Tennyson are VBCPS graduates. Tennyson said it\u2019s extra special to give back to his hometown.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmazon is committed to making a positive impact on the communities where we live and work,\u201d Torres said.<\/p>\n

Campbell thanked the school\u2019s new partner-in-education.<\/p>\n

\u201cAmazon brought it all together for us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
VBCPS superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson, Jr. stopped by Birdneck Elementary during the creation of an outdoor learning garden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Birdneck Elementary staff members and Amazon employees worked together to create an outdoor learning garden. From left, teachers Cindy Lehman, Caroline Waite, and Claire Calkins.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Amazon helped make Birdneck Elementary\u2019s dream of an outdoor learning garden come true by providing manpower and supplies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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