Cambridge School Certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Schoolyard Habitat

Cambridge's outdoor space, including the Hundred Acre Wood, was recently certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Certified Schoolyard Habitat. This nationwide program celebrates schools that restore native habitats, provide access to nature, and create outdoor education spaces for learning across the curriculum.

This accolade would not have been possible without the help of the ARK (Acts of Restorative Kindness) team, which has been working tirelessly in the Hundred Acre Wood to restore biodiversity by removing invasive plant species and replacing them with plants native to Maryland. This parent partnership is a wonderful example of parents bringing their talents and passions and offering them as a gift to the Cambridge student body and the community. Doug Tallamy, a wildlife ecologist from the University of Delaware, says, "As gardeners and stewards of our land, we have never been so empowered to help save biodiversity from extinction, and the need to do so has never been so great. All we need to do is plant native plants."

Not only is Cambridge creating a better environment for wildlife and for our students, but we are also building connections to our greater community. Nurseries have donated seeds and young trees to the project. Neighbors to Cambridge will benefit as the local habitat flourishes. As students take part in Outdoor Education, they too are learning to recognize invasive species and participate in the mission to restore biodiversity. Grades 1-5 took part in a contest to see who could collect the most porcelain berries, an important step in eradicating this aggressive vine. Altogether, students collected almost 6 pounds of porcelain berries! Parent partnerships come in all varieties. Becoming a Certified Schoolyard Habitat is a testament to the power and impact that parents serving in our community can have. Stewarding creation is just one way we can serve together to create a flourishing community.