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Proposal by Jack Marine
For $300.00 Grant
August 27, 2010
Brain, Science, and Inquiry-Based Education
K-12 Summer Institute 2010

My goal this year is to provide a nurturing, but structured environment for the students. I an effort to keep students connected to nature, I have designed an outdoor classroom located just outside of my Science Room at The Pen Ryn School in Fairless Hills, PA.

Students will be able to break down the common barriers that keep children from creating positive connections with the natural world. Using this Outdoor Classroom to engage students in hands-on activities will inspire a multitude of ideas for supporting the nature-child connection.

There is a tree on the school grounds about ten feet from the edge of the school building. My plan is to erect a natural fern fence that will surround the tree, the central point of the Outdoor Classroom. Inside this area will be a Earth Machine composting tower, a sitting area supported and surrounding the tree, and wooden (possibly tree trunk cut) benches. I am proposing to use the $300.00 grant as “seed money” to fund the cost of fence sections, a handmade wooden bench and the composting tower.

I located the lowest possible online site for purchase
of the fencing from Foster and Smith Aquatics, and I will
be able to purchase the Earth Machine compost tower from
The Township of Lower Merion at about one-third of its retail price.

The maintenance staff at my school have promised to provide materials to hold the fencing in place, as well as to help build the bench surrounding the tree’s trunk. I am including the purchase of one handmade bench to compliment the initial
installation of the area.


Cost Summary:

One Earth Machine Compost Tower                       @ $ 40.50
Five Sections of Fern Fence                           @ $161.00 incl. shipping
One 36"HANDMADE COLONIAL STYLE WOODEN            @ $  98.00  “          “
                                                                                      Total            $300.00