Project Wonder Ground
King's Gate Christian School: Wildlife Habitat Improvement
Kirkpatrick Foundation Grant 2018
The Kirkpatrick Foundation and Environmental Conservation
The foundation has supported programs designed to build awareness about the natural environment including soil health and freshwater protection. Programs also supported have been for conservation education for teachers and landowners, strategies to protect fauna, and making natural habitats more accessible for all citizens. The health of every community is directly tied to the quality of the environment in which we live, and the foundation seeks to support efforts to ensure that quality.
Caterpillar Arrival
Pollinator EcoSystem Observed
Promoting Pollinators
Steel Deck Platform, Stairs and Guardrails
Deck footings and Platform
Vernal Pond
Vernal ponds are particularly important for amphibians, such as the Tiger Salamander, pictured above. Salamanders depend on vernal ponds to lay their eggs during the spring season. Most often construction is the reason our wetlands are disappearing. The creation of the vernal pond expands the habitat for creatures that depend on wetlands and gives our students an opportunity to study these creatures in their natural environment.
Use of Project Funding
For the past decade, Kings Gate Christian school has received widespread recognition for their environmental education programs through their unique approach to outdoor and conservation education, focusing primarily on the biological and physical sciences. Currently, an outdoor classroom is in the process of being built at the Surrey Hill campus. We started a small pollinator garden to begin the project in fall 2017. King’s Gate will partner with Kirkpatrick Foundation in their pursuit to help Oklahoma families realize the health of our environment is tied to the land we steward. King’s Gate will use the grant award by promoting environmental conversation by purchasing native grasses and plants for the pollinator garden, as well as, educational signage and a wildlife observation deck that will overlook the creek bed and wetlands. These elements will support the growing outdoor classroom by providing educational opportunities for our students, families and other community partners.
The Importance of Vernal Ponds
Wildlife Observation
Vision of Project Wonder Ground
This special outdoor education area and playground has been named “Wonder Ground," as it is conducive for integrating science with art, history, literature and physical education. Wonder Ground is located on the west side of our school building at Surrey Hills. There are wetlands located behind the creek that feature obligatory plants such as sedges, rushes and a large willow tree. The physical space provides the perfect environment to teach ecology and the conservation of natural resources. Once the project is completed King’s Gate’s science teacher, Ms. Laurie McIvor Gillum, and student volunteers will manage the wetland by providing food resources for migrating waterfowl. This will be completed by allowing the water levels in the vernal pond to be drawn down in the springtime for food producing plants such as smart weed and barnyard grasses to emerge then mature. Water levels will be allowed to fill in the winter months for waterfowl use. Students, our science teacher and volunteers will continue to plant native grasses, flowers and milkweed to provide flowering plants throughout the migrating season.
Email: slux@kingsgateschool.com
Website: https://kingsgateschool.com/
Location: 11400 N Portland Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73107, USA
Phone: 405-761-3555
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsGateChristianSchool/
Twitter: @KGCS_Lions
Volunteer Opportunities
The outdoor classroom will need a steady stream of volunteers to help weed and water the pollinator garden. We are looking for volunteers that can help build or purchase eastern bluebird boxes to hang off of the observation deck. If you have an hour on the weekend to lend a hand or if you have a group that can help, then please email Ms. Laurie at lauriegillum@gmail.com