Fifth Graders Invite Butterflies to School
Program Teaches Respect for Nature

By Bettina Benoit (contributing writer)
Staff photos by John McCusker

Picture this- It's a bright, sunny and windy Thursday afternoon in what can be classified as springtime in new Orleans. Thirty eager and bright-eyed fifth-graders stand on the second floor balcony of the library at Dr. Charles Crew Elementary School, 3819 St. Claude Ave., preparing to bring a little nature into an urban area.

After the nod from representatives of Teaching Responsible Earth Education, otherwise known as TREE, the students plant, pot and get dirty for reasons other than recess: They are on a mission to bring the balcony alive with butterflies by planting their very own butterfly garden.

"This program is part of Sunship Earth," TREE Director Sue Brown Said. "These students actually spent five days and four nights in the north shore woods to learn everything from diversity to recycling and soil samples. The follow-up is a way for the students to bring what they learned back to their community."

	TREE volunteer Loren McCamey holps Breshad Roy, 10, and Brandon Theordore, 11, plant their part of the new butterfly garden.

STUDENTS PLANT BUTTERFLY GARDEN

Bringing nature back into the 9th Ward is just what the students accomplished through Sunship Earth, a comprehensive environmental science program for fifth-graders. The Sunship Earth staff and crew counselors, and the classroom teacher combine efforts to provide a dynamic, effective learning experience. Students continue the program at school and home, to apply learning beyond the classroom. Sunship Earth is a beginning unit rather than a culminating one.

Drew Principal, Lee Caston is ecstatic about Sunship Earth and TREE. He remembers his own children participating in the program, beginning in 1985.

"My children were in the first Sunship program at Dibert School," Caston said. "I've learned about the program as a parent, teacher, and principal. It was a dream come true to have this program in our school. Our children are loving it."

Caston, who has been the school's principle since 1996 beamed as the students communed with nature. Caston said teacher Frederick Holmes is the true strength in the program. The director of the school's computer lab, Holmes is the teacher overseeing the TREE students because he has a background in biology and he loves science.

"We want the butterfly garden to be a little sanctuary for students or a magic spot," Holmes said. "The students loved every bit of their experience and are always talking about the program. We hope to spread it further."

Not only did the students learn how to create a butterfly garden with plants a butterfly thrives on, but they are learning how to apply concepts of recycling and conserving energy. Holmes said students talk about how they now turn the television and lights off at home when not in use and how they recycle paper and plastic.

"We just hope they bring what they've learned back into their community," Holmes said. "This program is really opening doors to them/. When on the north shore, some of them heard crickets and bird sounds for the first time. They actually got to see the stars. The program will definitely encourage some future doctors and scientists."

"This program is good because the next children will enjoy our garden," said Lauren Banks, 10. "Camping was fun and it helped me, learn a lot of things I didn't know about science."

Breshad Roy, 10, said "I like butterflies. I caught one before but it went away. I never did this before (gardening) but I'm learning more things I never learned before. I'll probably even make a garden at home."

Financing for the school's participation was provided by a state grant and the Shell Oil Foundation.

Angie Howell, a spokeswoman for TREE said, "this would not be possible without donations and corporate sponsors. We are not political and hope more corporate sponsors will come on board."

Howell added, "We are hoping and praying th program continues and that even more children can come."

Ten schools in the Orleans Parish school district are participating in the program, thanks to sponsors Lekoma Arte and Bea Bajorek of the Master Gardeners of Greater New Orleans, Tom Campbell and Mahlon Doucet of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Lamarque Motor Co, Nu-Earth Organics, Martin Seafood, and Libby and Mark Boner.

For information on the Drew Butterfly Garden or any of TREE's programs or Sunship Earth, contact Ann Kungel at 895-2772 [updated contact information].