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Stricker Middle Students Take Lessons to Heart
After attending a week-long environmental adventure camp, General John Stricker Middle School sixth-graders cleaned up a community creek.
By Jason Adams
From May 13-17, one hundred sixth-graders from General John Stricker Middle School attended NorthBay Adventure Camp, a five-day overnight camp where students learned about team-building skills, character development and environmental science.
In preparation for this trip, the school applied for and received a $5,000 grant from the Chesapeake Bay Trust to help reduce the cost of the trip for the students.
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Upon returning from NorthBay, the sixth grade team planned a stream clean-up project behind the school as a way to empower the students to be part of the solution in improving the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay.
On June 5, the school's entire sixth grade, consisting of 250 students, worked to clean up the stream under the guidance of their science teachers, Ms. Larichiuta and Ms. Hernandez.
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While working in the stream, the students pulled over 800 pounds of trash from the waterway, including several shopping carts, hundreds of bottles, and waste barrels.
Students were thoroughly engaged in this project and were pleading for additional time to continue working. The entire project was inspired by NorthBay Follow-On Program, intended to keep the lessons from NorthBay in the forefront of our students’ minds.
Also, the school was contacted by the Dundalk Renaissance Corporation to assist in monitoring the health of the stream by doing water testing and creating posters to inform the community about improving our environment.
The students and staff of General John Stricker Middle have made environmental issues among their notable educational priorities.
Editor's Note: Jason Adams is an instrumental music teacher and the Grade 6 Team leader at General John Stricker Middle School.
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