2012 Washington DC, USA
Seventh graders at Jefferson Middle School in southwest DC wanted to address the pollutants that reach the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers through stormwater. They decided to create a rain garden at school to retain stormwater on-site. Enlisting the help of local nurseries in planning, they created a small rain garden featuring plants adapted to the Coastal Plain setting.
At the Caring for Our Watersheds finals, students shared a short video presentation on the importance of watershed stewardship and taking an active role in it. At the conclusion of their finals presentation, student Xavier H. Said, “i never did anything like this before, and I am happy to be part fo this project… I felt a great deal of pride because we did it.”