Coe Lake Nature Trail & Coe Lake Nature Trail & Riparian Restoration Riparian Restoration

ProjectProject"HERSTORY""HERSTORY"

Coe Lake Nature Trail & Coe Lake Nature Trail & Riparian Restoration Riparian Restoration

ProjectProject"HERSTORY""HERSTORY"

Fall/Winter of 2003Fall/Winter of 2003

• The idea was presented to Ms. The idea was presented to Ms. Myers by the city of Berea to Myers by the city of Berea to beautify a neglected green-space beautify a neglected green-space area on the shores of Coe Lake.area on the shores of Coe Lake.

• Ms. Myers spoke with Mrs. Ms. Myers spoke with Mrs. Draves about helping out.Draves about helping out.

• Ms. Myers & Mrs. Draves Ms. Myers & Mrs. Draves expanded the “clean-up” idea expanded the “clean-up” idea into an “educational land lab” into an “educational land lab” idea that would be utilized by idea that would be utilized by BCSD students and the BCSD students and the community.community.

Purpose of ProjectPurpose of Project

To enhance the overall achievement in To enhance the overall achievement in science subjects while fostering a science subjects while fostering a

deeper understanding of environmental deeper understanding of environmental concepts for local and global concepts for local and global

environmental stewardship by providing environmental stewardship by providing authentic hands on learning authentic hands on learning

experiences that are aligned with the experiences that are aligned with the BCSD and 2015 Revised Ohio Science BCSD and 2015 Revised Ohio Science

Content Standards.Content Standards.

Presentations BeginPresentations Begin (Procure Funding/In-Kind (Procure Funding/In-Kind

Donations)Donations)

Spring 2004 - PresentSpring 2004 - Present • American Legion Post 91 (allow American Legion Post 91 (allow

access, utilize RR)access, utilize RR)• Business Advisory Council Business Advisory Council

($500.00)($500.00)• Kiwanis (volunteers, helmets)Kiwanis (volunteers, helmets)• Berea Rotary Club Berea Rotary Club

($8000.00,microscopes)($8000.00,microscopes)• Berea City Club (signage, labor)Berea City Club (signage, labor)• Educational Community Educational Community

Foundation ($1000.00)Foundation ($1000.00)• Blaze Construction (benches, Blaze Construction (benches,

picnic tables, labor)picnic tables, labor)• City of Berea (labor, expertise)City of Berea (labor, expertise)• The Snow Family (major The Snow Family (major

benefactor: $25,000)benefactor: $25,000)• Community Development Block Community Development Block

Grant (CBDG)-Cuyahoga County Grant (CBDG)-Cuyahoga County ($150,000.00)($150,000.00)

Money Received Used for…Money Received Used for…Native PlantsNative Plants

Organic MatterOrganic Matter

TopsoilTopsoil

MulchMulch

Ancillary Ancillary materials materials needed for needed for curriculumcurriculum

SustainabilitySustainability

• Recycled plastic picnic tablesRecycled plastic picnic tables• Recycled foundry sand and ash topsoilRecycled foundry sand and ash topsoil• Recycled concrete/brick porous trail Recycled concrete/brick porous trail

surfacesurface• Use of native stone for trail and Use of native stone for trail and

garden boundariesgarden boundaries• All native plant species used in All native plant species used in

plantings including a native prairieplantings including a native prairie

Fall 2004- PresentFall 2004- PresentSite BeautificationSite Beautification

Community Community Planting DaysPlanting Days

• Many students, Many students, staff and staff and community community members helped members helped beautify Coe Lake.beautify Coe Lake.

• Interesting items Interesting items found in the area:found in the area:refrigeratorsrefrigeratorsmattressesmattressesglass, glass, glass glass, glass, glass & more glass& more glass

Curriculum Writing Summer Curriculum Writing Summer 20052005

• Kindergarten Kindergarten

• 11stst grade grade

• 22ndnd grade grade

• Packaged & Packaged & organized organized curriculum binscurriculum bins

Fall 2005Fall 2005

• K-2 PILOT w/ Fairwood Elementary SchoolK-2 PILOT w/ Fairwood Elementary School• Formation of Coe Lake Advisory Formation of Coe Lake Advisory

CommitteeCommittee• Community Planting DaysCommunity Planting Days

Prairie Planting Spring Prairie Planting Spring 20062006

•Planted in Spring 2006 and took three years until it was established.

•Kurtz Brothers experimental topsoil (composed of waste

foundry sand) as growth medium.

Above picture taken Spring 2008

Opening Opening CeremonyCeremony

May 13, 2006May 13, 2006

Curriculum Writing Summer Curriculum Writing Summer 20062006

• 33rdrd Grade Grade• 44thth Grade Grade• 55thth Grade Grade• Packaged & Packaged &

organized binsorganized bins

Fall 2006Fall 2006

• 3-5 grade PILOT w/ 3-5 grade PILOT w/ Fairwood Elementary Fairwood Elementary SchoolSchool

• Ongoing maintenance & Ongoing maintenance & improvement of the areaimprovement of the area

Since 2006Since 2006

• We have hosted over We have hosted over 100's of classes from 100's of classes from grade levels K-5.grade levels K-5.

• Since 2004 over 550 Since 2004 over 550 Berea High School Berea High School students have been students have been an integral part of an integral part of the project.the project.

• Since 2005 over Since 2005 over 2800 elementary 2800 elementary students have students have experienced the Coe experienced the Coe Lake Nature Trail.Lake Nature Trail.

Bridge Completed Summer 2009

Summer & Fall of 2011Summer & Fall of 2011

• At the request of our new superintendent, At the request of our new superintendent, Ms. Myers & Mrs. Draves rewrote the Ms. Myers & Mrs. Draves rewrote the CLOSE curriculum to include only CLOSE curriculum to include only

Grades 3 & 5. This is a work in Grades 3 & 5. This is a work in progress…progress…Elementary teachers don't have to compete for time Elementary teachers don't have to compete for time

at the lake.at the lake.All 3All 3rdrd & 5 & 5thth graders in the district will have the graders in the district will have the

opportunity to spend a day at Coe Lake learning opportunity to spend a day at Coe Lake learning science.science.

Spring 2012Spring 2012

• Implementation and reworking of the Implementation and reworking of the new 2012 Coe Lake curriculum…new 2012 Coe Lake curriculum…

……this is this is you!!you!!

Ohio’s Science Standards Ohio’s Science Standards & &

The Coe Lake Nature Trail and Riparian The Coe Lake Nature Trail and Riparian Restoration ProjectRestoration Project

• The Coe Lake curriculum is aligned with Project 2061 The Coe Lake curriculum is aligned with Project 2061 benchmarks, the Ohio 2011 Revised OAA science benchmarks, the Ohio 2011 Revised OAA science content standards, the National Science Foundation content standards, the National Science Foundation and National Science Teacher Association standards and National Science Teacher Association standards for each grade level.for each grade level.

• The Riparian Restoration portion of the project seeks The Riparian Restoration portion of the project seeks to improve the vegetative zone along the shore at to improve the vegetative zone along the shore at Coe Lake so that weathering and erosion is Coe Lake so that weathering and erosion is minimized. This is being done with selective minimized. This is being done with selective planting of blooming trees and shrubs and remains a planting of blooming trees and shrubs and remains a work in progress.work in progress.

• This project is ongoing and involves Berea City This project is ongoing and involves Berea City School District, The Berea Community Development School District, The Berea Community Development Cooperation, the city of Berea and the community.Cooperation, the city of Berea and the community.

What You Need to KnowWhat You Need to KnowSo That You Can Communicate So That You Can Communicate

Intelligently about This Project to Intelligently about This Project to OthersOthers

• When it started (2003)When it started (2003)• What was done 1What was done 1st st (clean up of the area)(clean up of the area)• What was found? (mattresses,refrig.)What was found? (mattresses,refrig.)• Major contributors? (The Snow Family, Rotary Club, Cuyahoga Major contributors? (The Snow Family, Rotary Club, Cuyahoga

County, Blaze Construction, City of Berea)County, Blaze Construction, City of Berea)• What are in-kind services? (donations in form of goods & What are in-kind services? (donations in form of goods &

services, no cash)services, no cash)• Purpose of project? (Foster an awareness of the environment Purpose of project? (Foster an awareness of the environment

through the teaching of science outdoors.)through the teaching of science outdoors.)• What school piloted the project? (Fairwood)What school piloted the project? (Fairwood)• Who paid for the bridge? (The Snow Family, Cuyahoga County)Who paid for the bridge? (The Snow Family, Cuyahoga County)• When was the opening ceremony? (May 13,2006)When was the opening ceremony? (May 13,2006)• What sustainable choices were made at Coe Lake?What sustainable choices were made at Coe Lake?• How has the curriculum changed within the last year?How has the curriculum changed within the last year?• What is a riparian zone?What is a riparian zone?