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Prairie meadow finds TLC from preschool
(by Joan Demirjian - June 23, 2010)
Prairie meadow finds TLC from preschool
By JOAN DEMIRJIAN
A prairie meadow needs care and that is what is happening at the Geauga Park District's Frohring Meadows in Bainbridge.
Staff members at Precious Resources Preschool in South Russell have "adopted" the meadows off of Savage Road. They have recently undergone training by the park district for their volunteer duties in the park, which opened in 2007.
Holly Bollin-Booth, a staff environmental education specialist with Precious Resources, is in charge of the project. She had worked with the park district as a graduate student. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in special education and a master's degree in ecological science. It was a perfect pairing of the park district and the preschool, Mrs. Bollin-Booth said. They both have common goals of awareness of the ecological system and sustaining the environment, she said.
She had contacted the park district, seeking opportunities. Paul Pira, a Geauga Park District biologist, said they were looking for someone to adopt the Frohring Meadows.
"It was waiting for us," Mrs. Bollin-Booth said of the perfect opportunity. "It was serendipity."
Now, the staff at Precious Resources is helping to take care of the park, which contains flowers found in prairie meadows.
"Purple cone flowers and grasses do well in the wild," Mrs. Bollin-Booth said. When flowers native to the state are planted, they do better, she said.
"We're weeding and the kids are doing it as well," she said. The volunteers are watering and keeping the plants tidy.
Anything not purposely planted will be removed, she said. "We'll be pulling plants out before they get out of control."
Over time, everyone is learning just what is appropriate, she said.
"We're hoping the children learn about prairies, fauna and the birds, Mrs. Bollin-Booth said. They are training along with their families.
"It's a great opportunity," she said. "A lot of people are not aware of prairie plants, and that we still have remnants of prairies in Ohio."
The volunteer efforts are ongoing, and everyone is taking their turn tending the plants, she said.
"We're visiting the prairie on a weekly basis," Mrs. Bollin-Booth said. "We're trying to involve the families on weekends. It's a natural and environmentally friendly project."
Paul Pira, park district biologist, said the district is happy to have the children, parents and staff as volunteers. "What better way to teach stewardship of the environment," he said. "It's never too early."
They are learning about native plants and their value to the environment. "And they are really helping us. They are taking care of the prairie."
Greg Quast, who along with his wife, Barbara, own Precious Resources, said the lesson of giving back is an important part of the curriculum, and it is only fitting that the staff give back.
Mrs. Bollin-Booth's teaching experience includes formal classroom teaching, outdoor education and one-on-one tutoring, he said.
"She enjoys sharing her love of science and the environment with students of all ages," Mr. Quast said.
"We all took the training to care for the meadow. We're picking weeds, cleaning up and answering questions. We're like mini-botanists," he said.
"We'll teach the kids and take them out in the fall," Mr. Quast said.
Most of the parkland was once farmland owned by Paul Frohring. He grew soybeans, oats, corn and wheat. The land was donated to the park district in 1996.
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