Next school year, students and staff can expect to see more than just perennial plants in bloom on the nature trail on the Kehrs Mill Road side of campus.
Last year, science teachers Kevin Koch, Susan Hartley, Jennifer Holman and Dan Whiting collaborated to clear invasive species lingering in a wooded area near the preschool playground and loading docks to create a path for students and staff to use for hands-on learning or a peaceful walk.
Now, more students and staff are involved to help enhance this nature trail.
Zachary Avila, engineering and construction teacher, said his Geometry in Construction (GIC) class built 10 benches, two storage closets and an archway for the nature trail this year.
“It’s a great idea, and I’d love to do more projects like this around campus,” Avila said.
By the end of next school year, GIC also plans to create some informational plaques about the plants and a small bridge crossing a short part of the creek that runs through the trail.
However, any future projects are currently on hold. Avila said a neighbor complained and wanted to make sure there was a building permit to install the structures visible when driving by the nature trail.
Sue McNamara, Mayor of Clarkson, also reached out to Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle concerning this complaint.
“So it is kind of upsetting because there is a possibility that they might, if worst came to worst, remove the ones that are visible from the street,” Avila said
Avila said he secured a building permit with the City of Clarkson Valley when GIC constructed the track shed. Avila said the process was a bit lengthy, but he had help from the district to get correct documentation.
Specifically, Principal Dr. Tracey Waeckerle said McNamara reached out about a building permit for the items on the nature trail visible from Kehrs Mill Road. If approved, the structures will remain, but if not, they will be relocated.
Aside from these man-made amenities, Whiting said the timeline for completing all enhancements will likely be 5 to 10 years, as many of these improvements will happen naturally.
Currently, there is still a large amount of Japanese honeysuckle and poison hemlock on the trail, both types of invasive species. Whiting said he hopes to find grant opportunities to fund the replacement of these invasive plants with native ones.
“And so our hope is to kind of start managing that area by removing the unwanted, invasive species, and actually starting a wildflower garden in there,” Whiting said.
Since no money has been spent on the trail so far, Whiting said he’s interested in writing a grant with the Audubon Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation and wildlife protection. He also hopes to bring in landscape biologists from the Missouri Department of Conservation for more guidance on other ways to enhance the trail’s biodiversity.
“We live in a world where there’s a lot of invasive species taking over and displacing native species, and we are here in the middle of suburbia,” Whiting said. “So I would kind of like to create a biodiversity island almost, where native plants and animals can exist in this suburban environment and then we can appreciate them and see them as we learn and use the habitat.”
By the end of this school year, Whiting said he aims to start a small wildflower garden plot on the trail. He gathered native seeds on campus last fall, including coneflowers and native grasses. He worked with the Marquette Environmental Coalition (MEC) to germinate these seeds at the end of March.
“Really, this year is just a test to see can we germinate these seeds and if they’re successful enough to plant them outside,” Whiting said.
If successful, more wildflowers will be planted in the future, said MEC president Ellie Pagan, senior.
“Next year, we’re going to get deeper into that process by taking out a lot of the poison hemlock, planting a bunch of wildflowers on the bed of the creek,” Pagan said.
Aside from germinating seeds, Pagan said the club has helped Whiting plant native trees, clear out invasive species and maintain compost bins on the nature trail.
“A lot of students feel cooped up in school, so it’s nice that those students have an opportunity, a facilitated opportunity, where it’s not just a free for all, to go on the trail,” Pagan said.
