Last year Grand Blanc High School, in an effort to be recognized as an official "Michigan Green School," created a Michigan Native Garden.  The high school students partnered with elementary school students to create a garden near the high school that consisted entirely of plants native to Michigan.  Each species was picked with a purpose in mind - of creating a sustainable ecosystem visitors could enjoy about and learn with, the ultimate goal of service-learning.

All of the students engaged in the project walked away with valuable life and classroom lessons.  The younger participants incorporated the project into their Michigan History curriculum by discovering what purposes plants are used for and what our state's ancestors formerly used particular species for.  The older participants learned how to prepare, plant, and tend a garden, plus other biology and "going green" related concepts.

Despite the effort it took to kick off Grand Blanc High School's Michigan Native Garden, the work will not be lost.  Its ongoing maintenance and subsequent beautification will benefit future students as they visit the Garden to learn about its wonders.

Martha Gale, Grand Blanc's Director of Career and Technical Education, is proud to combine statewide initiatives with the district's service-learning efforts - further amplified by the fact the high school is now officially a "Michigan Green School."

"Going green is so important," she exclaimed.  "It's so important to education as our state is focused on green initiatives, green jobs, and Michigan taking an overall leadership role.  By involving alternative energies and green efforts into our service-learning projects, we're continuing to unite real world relevance with academics; helping students build relationships; and taking classrooms out of the school and putting them in the community!"