GMAS Funds Four New Grants
By Adam Weiss
The GMAS funded four grants this year.
One grant was spearheaded by Don Taylor, a teacher at Main Street Middle School in Montpelier. Don used the grant funding to develop a “bird-friendly campus” at the school. Funds were used to purchase materials for bird houses and mounting poles. A significant portion of the $1000 grant remains for use during the coming school year.
Don’s curriculum is remarkably aligned with the mission of the GMAS, touching on conservation, ecology, and climate change.
Don shared that “the Main Street Middle School Sustain Program purchased four wren boxes and installed them on our Main Street Middle School campus. Some of these wren boxes are located adjacent to pollinator and monarch butterfly gardens that our students are establishing. In addition to installation of the bird houses, several students designed, and laser cut signage in our school-based Innovation Lab. These signs were posted with the bird houses to raise student awareness of our project. In addition to the bird houses, we also placed two alpaca wool packages on campus to encourage nest building.”
A second report came from Fellicia Cota, an artist and educator who provided a summary of her work at the Kid's Nature Art Camp in Swanton. She received a $2,000 grant. Her report detailed the artistic connection to the natural world and included several photos of her kids’ impressive creativity.
Fellicia shared her intent that “this grant will encourage increased exploration in nature through both the process of art creations and the excitement to place bird feeders in nature. Installing items such as bird feeders will encourage increased connection with nature and time spent outdoors.”
A third report came from Gina Krol, a middle school teacher at Winooski Middle School, who received a $1,000 grant. Gina, along with her student teacher from last year, June Laub, launched a birding club at the school, which has students signed up for the current school year as well. Funds were used to purchase binoculars for students in the new birding club. Her photos celebrate her students engaged in bird identification.
June shared that “the birding club at WMS has only gotten more exciting as the months have passed and the weather has improved. Students have been improving their binocular skills, assisting each other in their aim. We have been exploring the district campus, and students often say, “I didn’t know these birds were here!” I love introducing students to birds that they thought were “too cool” to be found in Vermont, such as the Red-winged Blackbird (they love identifying their “conk-ree” song) and the Northern Flicker. We also recently saw a Bald Eagle, circling near eight Turkey Vultures!”
Finally, through a $2,000 grant GMAS funded the installation of -- and educational signage for -- a deer exclusion zone in the 77-acre Pelots Nature Area in North Hero. The hardwood forest of the nature area is heavily overgrazed by deer resulting in an unsustainable lack of replacement growth for the forest and a lack of low- and intermediate-growth habitat for wildlife. According to Jeanne Metherall, North Hero Parks and Recreation Committee Chair, “Using guidance we received from the state forester, P&R selected two areas with relatively open canopies and with existing young maple saplings that would be conducive to this restoration project. A few weeks ago, a group of our volunteers erected tall fences around both areas. The intent is to have the fences in place for 5 to 6 years, allowing the saplings to grow to a height where they can survive any deer grazing. We will be tending to these areas regularly, removing any invasives and giving the maple saplings a fighting chance. We have added informational signs about the project for our visitors. If the project is successful, we plan to select other areas in the grove for this protection.
The Green Mountain Audubon Society is excited to support these innovative projects.