Habitat at Home Goes Back to School

By Kim Matsushino

When I received a call from McCorkle Middle School asking for help installing a pollinator garden at the school, I must admit I was pretty terrified. Stepping foot onto a middle school campus brought back nightmares of sleeping through exams and the panic of being called on and not knowing the answer, or worse, being sent to the front of the classroom because you “talk too much.” This was going to be an experience.

As we stood in front of what seemed like 100 kids, their dewy eyes staring back at us with the expectation of an awe-inspiring and profound lesson, we were a bit caught off guard. I didn’t have a speech prepared that would pump up the kids to dig some holes. So, we proceeded to the worksite. We had assumed the planting basin was already established, but we were faced with a flat piece of land with plants placed where they were intended to go. We had to adjust the plan. There would be no pollinator lesson before beginning the install—instead, we dig and learn along the way.





The school had put a lot of thought and time into strategically placing the plants where they would receive the correct amount of water and sun. Our job was to remove 3-4 inches of topsoil which would form the basin, dig holes for each of the plants, and plant them. Oh, and teach these tots about pollinators and how to create a beneficial habitat for them at the same time.

As kids rotated between classroom time with their teachers and outside activities with us, we got a good understanding of what the kids were learning about in school and how much they knew about pollinators. From their feedback, we were able to have an informal talk about our local pollinators and why they are so important to our ecosystem. I will say some were more enthusiastic than others.

The last group of kids we had were clearly natural leaders. As we sat on the sidelines chugging water and catching our breath (digging through caliche is not fun), they took ownership of the project. They expedited tasks to their classmates, taught them how and where to dig holes, and built up the basin walls. I did a quick overview of the garden and my heart sank. Not surprisingly, the 5-gallon dalea we had been putting off was still there. This plant needed a big, deep hole. But, have no fear, these kids were on it! They had that hole dug in no time, and I was thankful.

Three hours later, we had successfully constructed a rainwater basin, planted and watered about 15 plants, all while managing to keep everyone’s fingers and toes intact.

We left the worksite exhausted, but proud of what we and the kids had accomplished in such a short amount of time. Although it was difficult and didn’t go exactly as planned, it was a great learning experience for all of us. I learned that getting kids to listen to you is hard and takes gusto and a no nonsense demeanor. I don’t blame them; they’re outside with their friends holding shovels and eyeing pickaxes. I get it. I probably wouldn’t have listened either. I was reminded that kids are still kids and that I was once one; learning the ropes and trying to grow up in a complex, scary world. Kids are our future, and I couldn’t be more optimistic and excited for that future.

 
Most importantly, I learned that teachers are saints, and none of this would be possible without them. Thanks to the teachers at McCorkle and all the students for this opportunity; it truly was one of the most inspiring experiences I’ve had. I can’t wait to do it again.

Kim Matsushino is the Habitat at Home Coordinator at Tucson Audubon. Learn about the program at tucsonaudubon.org/habitat.