Launched in 2018, From the Ground Up is a hands-on environmental education initiative by Conservation Halton that engages middle school students in local environmental stewardship. It combines in-class education with practical outdoor learning to help green local communities. And by bringing the learning to students, it reduces the carbon footprint by avoiding the use of buses. The program currently offers two educational options, Focused on Forests, and Species Invaders. High school student volunteers enrich the program by mentoring younger students.
Why this Program Matters
Conservation Authorities across the province produce report cards that provide a snapshot of the health of their watershed every five years. They report on the quality of four environmental factors: groundwater, surface water, forest conditions, and impervious cover. Forest conditions are a key indicator of forest health as the amount of forest cover can have a significant effect on all of the other environmental measures. Local neighbourhood-based programs like From the Ground Up help improve the amount of forest cover.
The Impact, Thanks to our Partners
Since its launch, 2,537 students have planted 4,300 trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species, cleared 5,500 invasive species, and participated in 130 classes. The Mulch and Monitor module introduced this year has been very popular with teachers and students. Students learn how to care for and monitor their local plantings for the long-run.
This year’s funders include the Burlington Foundation, Oakville Community Foundation, The Catherine and Maxwell Meighen Foundation, and TC Energy. The Burlington Foundation focuses on impact in Burlington, aiming to renew and increase participation from local schools by offsetting registration fees to ensure diverse socio-economic backgrounds can participate. Other partners include the Town of Halton Hills, Town of Oakville, City of Milton, and City of Burlington.
Thank you to all of our program funders for supporting this incredible program, and to our program participants and their educators—we couldn’t do it without you!