By Renata Robins and Lisa Robins

Coeur d’Alene Elementary School is proud to present its Campus Greening Project,  Butterflies and Boulders!

The goal of our project is to transform our public school into an aesthetically pleasing, environmentally sustainable campus that provides its students with opportunities to connect with nature.

We will be hosting two major planting days in October.

October 23 is the school event with our students, teachers, our new principal, Andrew Jenkins, Tree People and parent volunteers planting 28 trees.

On October 24, our students, Jenkins, some hard working parents, Tree People and our community will all come together to help accomplish the planting of native shrubs such as manzanita, lilac, sage, yarrow and currant.

We will have removed 8,000 square feet of asphalt and will be replacing it with beautiful native drought tolerant plants allowing the annual rainfall to percolate into the soil rather than flood the school.The garden and its integrated curriculum will teach lasting lessons of conservation and promote awareness of the local watersheds.

Coeur d’Alene began this journey when Amy Syrett, one of the many involved parents at the school, decided to create a committee to promote environmental awareness.  She called it the Green Team. Tragically, Amy died of lung cancer in 2006.

But that wasn’t the end of Amy’s Green Team.

The value of her idea was recognized, and interested parents and teachers kept the Green Team thriving.

Then we had the idea to include students, creating a Jr. Green Team. Four years later, both kids and adults continue to learn to “reduce, reuse, recycle”!

Coeur d’Alene invites you to participate in Butterflies and Boulders. We need your help!

Please join us on October 24 from 9-12 at  810 Coeur d’Alene. Snacks and a party will follow the planting.

For further information and to RSVP contact Julia Morgan at julia.jules@yahoo.com

Bring gloves and a smile …See you there!

Renata Robins is a student at Coeur d’Alene.