Grant will help fund rain garden

PLUMSTED - New Egypt High School's Environmental Club is one of five Ocean County school programs to be awarded the Ocean County Soil Conservation District's Rain Garden Project grant.

"Giving the students an opportunity to be included in this project will give them a new appreciation of conservation that an indoor classroom could not give," said biology teacher and club adviser Jaime Donahue.

According to Donahue, the benefits of the project reach far beyond her science classes.

"Other classes in the high school and other schools will be involved as well. For example, a math class could calculate the runoff that would be interrupted. The selfcontained special education class could help withmaintenance and learn about the plants," Donahue said.

According to a press release, the project site is in a central area that is accessible for students from all four Plumsted schools.

Division of Parks and Forestry employees Diane Hewlett-Lowrie and Terry O'Leary visited with the high school club students and teachers recently to discuss plans for the rain garden.

"This is the best follow-up visit I've ever had at a school," O'Leary said. "They did a lot of research and planning. It's easy to dig the hole and plant the tree, it's the planning that's important."

The garden's theme is "Fall Into Spring" to follow along with the school year. According to the press release, the Environmental Club members hope that the garden will be a place for outdoor classes for students for years to come.

Each school participating in the project will be allotted funds and services valued up to $5,000, but must budget or raise 25 percent, or $1,250, of their own funds. The New Egypt High School Environmental Club is currently fundraising for this project as well as a recycling initiative to purchase recycling bins for each classroom in the school district.

"Donations of time, money and materials are welcome for all of our projects," Donahue said.