Purpose of The Program
The RainScapes for Schools Growing program is a voluntary, hands on program designed to support high school and community college level horticulture education in the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). The program is intended to introduce young people to the career options in fields such as environmental horticulture, landscape architecture, and other environmental disciplines. These plants can be put to use in various environmental restoration projects such as low impact development stormwater practices and RainScapes.
Through the program, students are introduced to the variety of native plants used in local watershed and habitat restoration programs. The program is a source of plants which can be used for DEP’s watershed restoration projects, for school campus projects, RainScapes, school fund-raisers and plant sales!
About the Program
The Growing Program for RainScapes for Schools provides plant materials to horticulture and environmental science classes. Materials including plants native to the Chesapeake Watershed are provided to be grown in school greenhouses over the winter. They can be used in the spring for habitat enhancement landscape projects, and in RainScapes projects such as bioretention, rain gardens and conservation landscapes.
Curricular materials for use in the classroom pertaining to watershed health, rain gardens, conservation landscaping, plants for rain gardens, and trees have been developed to complement the current horticulture curriculum materials available through MCPS and MC and distributed to participating schools. All of the students involved in our pilot program are learning how challenging it is to grow a crop for a set target.
The program has been piloted at eight public schools during the 2009-2010 school year.
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Who is Eligible?
Any high school horticulture and AP environmental studies programs in Montgomery County public schools with greenhouse access are eligible for this program.
Reporting Requirements
While there is no charge to the school for the plants or growing media, a one page assessment survey of the project and 25 percent of the plugs provided are to be provided back to DEP for spring planting projects by April 15th.
The balance of plants is for the classes to use on community-based projects or as part of the entrepreneurial component of green job education in the horticulture curriculum.
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How to Apply?
Fill out the plant and materials request form and mail to:
RainScapes for Schools - Growing Program
255 Rockville Pike, Suite 120
Rockville, MD 20850
or
You may also e-mail the application to Ann English, the program coordinator, at RainScapes Application.
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Application Deadline
Plug plant materials will be provided to MCPS high school horticulture classes that submit an application to DEP RainScapes by October 10th. The minimum order is one tray with a maximum order of five trays per school. The order form is attached to the application. Availability varies each year.
Pick up plants and soil mix at Sherwood HS Greenhouse (pick up date to be provided after application is processed and approved). Teachers are responsible for collecting their materials for their programs. DEP will pick up plants from schools in the spring.
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