Community Partnerships
Dominion Power and Boy Scout Troop 1634
In May of 2010, teachers, parents, and members of the community wrote a grant to fund an outdoor Environmental Education Lab (EEL). We were awarded a $10,000 grant from Dominion Power in September, 2010. A committee consisting of staff, teachers, and community members designed the EEL. The initial design was extended and finalized by Brendan Tomasic, a former RES student, for his Eagle Scout Project. The project began in May of 2011 with the help of Troop 1634, Dominion employees, RES staff, and community members. It was completed in June, 2011. See Curriculum and Instruction tab for descriptions of activities conducted in the EEL.
Dominion's Cove Point LNG Terminal
In 2011, RES partnered with Dominion's Cove Point LNG Terminal, the National Aquarium, and the Maryland Conservation Corps for a shoreline restoration project at Dominion's Cove Point facility in Calvert County. In February of 2011, students from our fourth grade classes planted over 6,000 American Beach Grass plants along the shoreline in Lusby, Maryland. Students participated in learning about the facility and the restoration project prior to their visit and then during the visit they worked with a volunteer from Conversation Corps and Dominion employees under the direction of the National Aquarium personnel. In addition, students toured Dominion's "green building" to see first hand how buildings can be environmentally friendly. Upon their return, students wrote about their experiences and the importance of beach grass and the role it plays in protecting our estuaries. The students' hard work and success in this project can be seen through the growth of these plants and the shoreline that has been restored.
First Saints Community Church
Volunteers from First Saints Community Church organized a beautification day for Ridge Elementary School in May of 2011. Participants landscaped our gardens, built landscaping boxes around several trees, tilled and prepared the Butterfly Garden, and put down landscaping rock. This beautification day showed the students not only the importance of taking care of the Earth and the environment by cleaning up and planting around the school, but it also showed the students that the Ridge community cares about them and their learning environment.
Chesapeake Fresh Oyster Company
In 2011, we began a partnership with Chesapeake Fresh Oyster Company. The proposed project will allow students to learn about the important role oysters play in keeping the Chesapeake Bay clean and viable. Students will also learn how to care for the oysters by participating in the installation and maintenance of several oyster floats. Our proximity to the Chesapeake Bay will allow our students to walk to the Chesapeake Fresh Oyster Company's pier from our school. The students are also planning a penny drive with the help of a Senior from St. Mary's College of Maryland. This drive will enable the students to purchase their own float which they will be responsible for maintaining.
Ridge Elementary PTA
Our PTA sponsors an after-school environmental club. Students plant and maintain school yard gardens. Students learn how plants regenerate and after the plants mature students divide them in order to provide plantings for additional gardens. This hands-on activity teaches students how to reuse existing plants and materials instead of buying new plants. The students also learn how to repurpose flower pots into toad houses and gourds into birdhouses. The PTA also supports the EEL by contributing funds to various projects, including the maintenance of our existing blue bird nesting boxes and gardens.