Cowherd creates pollinator habitat Cowherd creates pollinator habitat

Students and teachers from Cowherd Middle School recently held a Community Planting Day where they invited the community to help them create a pollinator habitat garden.

The habitat was funded with the help of a $8,250 grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF).

The Planting Day was held May 31, when^, students, parents, staff, and community members helped dig, plant and water to build the habitat.  

“The kids love it,” said Cathy Evans, 6th grade science teacher at Cowherd. “Students who had previously not been excited about science, have been amazing helpers with this project.”

The habitat will provide students a first-hand experience with Illinois’ native habitat in action by creating a year round refuge for pollinators. 

The grant is part of the ICECF’s Pollinator Schools Pilot Program, which supports the creation of native pollinator habitats at locations in Illinois that provide environmental education opportunities for K-12 students.

Students helped promote the Community Planting Day throughout the school by making a poster announcing the event.

Cowherd students will now have more opportunities to learn about Illinois’ native plants, while the habitat provides a much needed food source for a variety of pollinators that are important to both food crops and wildflowers. 

The ICECF grant provided for the purchase of plant materials as well as costs associated with the design, installation and limited summer maintenance of the habitat.

“This pollinator garden is a wonderful addition to the learning environment at Cowherd,” said assistant principal Margaret Boyd. “It will serve as a living laboratory for our students to learn about pollinators, native species, and other important ecological concepts while also providing much needed pollinator habitat.”