Schools

L-W Central Science Teachers Partner with Will County Forest Preserve

The teachers and students helped remove harmful species from Will County Forest Preserve lands.

For the past 4 years the Lincoln-Way Central biology teachers and their students teamed up with the Will County Forest Preserve working together to help eliminate invasive species around the local forest lands.

Lincoln-Way Central biology teachers David Mulconrey, Jennifer Malito, Heather Mackowiak, Kristen Prieto, and Rhonda Starklauf  and their students enjoyed the ‘hands-on’ ecology experience this past spring.

“The groups focused primarily on the Hickory Creek barrens access area across from Lincoln-Way Central,” stated Sarah Highfill, science department chair.

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Highfill continued, “Lincoln-Way Central students will restore areas of the preserve to healthier situations by removing the invasive species that deter growth of healthy plants and seedlings which are local to the area.”

Students and teachers use hand tools to remove the undergrowth in the forest preserve, particularly multiflora rose and bush honeysuckles.

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“The students understand their role of eliminating the invasive species that have denied seedlings from growing by competing with them for nutrients, water, and sunlight,” noted Highfill.

After removing the invasive species, Lincoln-Way Central students were given the opportunity to plant 822 new plugs to keep the forest thriving.

 A few of the species students planted include: shooting star; common blue-eyed grass; nodding pink onion; wild columbine; prairie violet; wild hyacinth; golden alexanders; butterfly milkweed; sky-blue aster; copper shouldered oval sedge; prairie coreopsis; white prairie clover; purple prairie clover; showy goldenrod; and porcupine grass.

“Even though the weather was rough, (cold and windy), the Forest Preserve staff complimented our students’ effort, attitude, ability, and attention. Their energy was high, and they understood the significance of what they were doing,” said Highfill.

 

 


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