Rain Garden February 20, 2014

A proposal for Ecole Mount Prevost

With the wonderful potential for creative playground ideas beginning here at our new school location the outdoor class room committee may consider creating a rain garden using the existing rainwater runoff that gives our school a tiny meandering stream along the north east boundary of school grounds.

Rain gardens are natural, educational micro wet land areas that offer interactive use of puddle water and flowing runoff streams with hardy reeds, rushes and other fast growing, all season plants such as watercress, cranberry and wild rice. Horticultural study, bird box construction, hydroelectric lessons and water table play are all possible with a variety of learning stations that would be set up along the procession of water flow. Ideal for independent play or structured lessons rain gardens are suitable for all season learning and delight. On frosty or snowy days the children can study frost formations and ephemeral ice crystals in the frozen puddles. Usually the water flow would be channeled to move water wheels, collect in toy locks and demonstrate the power of gravity and water flow as the children pull levers and turn the simple water wheels that catch the trickle as it pours by or they could float paper boats and build natural structures with pebbles, shells, pinecones or drift wood. Damp sand is of course another benefit as sand castle builders know and biology lessons are possible with the study of many birds, frogs and other creatures that will be attracted to the puddles and plants we introduce to enhance the water that regularly runs with every rain and spring runoff.

Our temperate west coast rain forest climate is ideal for rain gardens as a google of the term reveals for work with similar climate locations such as Seattle, Oregon and the UK.

Please support the Rain Garden idea for our school.

Thank you

Petronella van Oyen

250-737-1717 domincs@telus.net

Rain Garden Legend for proposal sketch.

1. Water enters the school grounds at this point collecting in a puddle that is suitable for planting the first batch of water reeds and bull rushes. This would be a good place for a few nesting boxes, stump rounds and stepping stones to help keep toes dry. 2. Detachable water wheel could be put in place during school hours. 3. Channels where water travels down selected paths guided by a sturdy system of locks, levers and twisting turns of water table learning and fun with the force of gravity. 4. Bike water wheel turns with petal power for exercise, learning and repurposing old bike parts to demonstrate industrial recovery design. 5. Children will be able to work independently or in groups using pebbles, twigs, pinecones and leaves creating delightful structures. (See our photos of student creations in this vein.) 6. Meandering brook design will snake down the slope to allow maximum water surface areas from the drainage stream and puddles with many sand bars for play and learning along the length of this rain garden. 7. Lush green watercress and wild rice squares alternating in a geometric pattern with pebble or ceramic mosaic garden art projects that the children would create. 8. In one season bull rushes and reeds can grow between 4-12 feet tall. Water loving fast growing herbs, wild flowers and shrubs will be selected to be tough enough to endure the abuse of many happy feet and inquisitive fingers. 9. Geocache treasure and “cultured fossils” could be planted behind seed logs, between boulders and just below the surface of the sand. 10. A sturdy demonstration wind mill could be constructed out of three hockey sticks, bike parts and colorful nylon fabric.