Tecumseh's Habitat Lab Ready for Outdoor Learning and Exploration
The Habitat Lab at Tecumseh Elementary is spruced up and ready for students to dive into hands-on science learning! While the habitat is always a favorite learning space for students and teachers, the recent fall cleanup has cleared the outdoor classroom area of weeds, added new native plant species, and made the walking paths easy to navigate once again.
The lab offers a rich setting for students to observe local ecology firsthand, with lessons for every changing season. Visitors to the space this month can spot blooming purple aster, a resident toad, grasshoppers, late-season butterflies, snails resting on logs near the water, and fascinating native fungi.
This recent refresh was made possible thanks to dedicated community volunteers who donated their time and hard work — along with new native plants, too! A big THANK YOU to:
- Patrick Higgins (Tecumseh grandparent and owner of Patrick Goes Native) and Austin Miller (owner of Birdsong Landscapes) for educating staff on native species, identifying existing plants, and donating and installing 11 new native plants.
- Greene County OSU Extension and Master Gardeners volunteers Sarah Isbill, Debbie Downes, Kathy Estabrook, Nelson King, and Zara Smith for guiding work days, teaching staff about native plant maintenance, pruning, and weeding pathways.
- Xenia High School National Honor Society volunteers Kennedy Jones and Chase Bowen for giving up their day off school to pull weeds and clear space for new growth.
- Andy and Amanda Landis of Andy’s Tree Care LLC for generously donating wood chips to mulch the grounds and suppress weeds.
Students are getting involved in caring for the space by taking turns watering the newly installed plants to help them establish roots before the first winter freeze.
Teachers and classes are encouraged to head outside, explore the lab, and take advantage of this wonderful outdoor learning environment!
See additional photos in the online gallery.
📷 Sarah George