On Thursday, June 4 at 4 p.m., students in the GEMS Cultivating Pathways leadership group will share what they’ve learned about the gravel wetland and stormwater, give a tour of the planting of locally-evolved species that they helped design and install, and offer a sneak peak at the design for the new interpretive sign they helped create.

This project is a collaboration between the Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) and the student group at GEMS. The goal was to learn about, teach about, and enhance the gravel wetland that was constructed on their campus last summer through Vermont Green Schools. As part of their work, students studied effective communication strategies and put this learning into action to teach lessons to younger students in the school. LCC and GEMS students are excited to share the culmination of their work from the school year.

Partners involved in this project include Lake Champlain Sea Grant, Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Shelburne Farms, Maddocks Landscaping, Greenleaf Designs, and the amazing educators and personnel at GEMS who helped make this happen, including Karen Lehning, Scott Thompson, Eric Hadd, Jeff Hamel, and the third and fourth grade educator team.

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (LC00A01526) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program.

Formed in 1963, LCC is a bi-state nonprofit organization solely dedicated to protecting Lake Champlain’s health and accessibility. LCC uses science-based advocacy, education, and collaborative action to protect and restore water quality, safeguard natural habitats, foster stewardship, and ensure recreational access.