MYCP - Monroe Youth Challenge Program

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CSHS Construction and Leadership Classes Build Gazebo for Village of Islands, Community

TAVERNIER, Fla. – Is there a way to capture the interest of a construction worker and a gardener together and utilize both skill sets to serve a community? That’s what a group of students in the Coral Shores High School Construction and Leadership Classes recently learned while earning their class credits this semester.

Thanks to two Florida Learn & Serve grants totaling a value near $6,000, and the tireless efforts of the Monroe County School District Learn and Serve Grant Coordinator Sunny Booker, the Islamorada Village of Islands Plantation Tropical Preserve and Children’s Memorial Tree Garden has been given a center-piece Gazebo, new native butterfly-attracting plants, and photo album commemorating each memorial tree planted so far. All this accomplished by the creative spirit, energy and collaboration of a few students and community-matched funds. The Leadership Class at Coral Shores High School, under the vision of Monroe Youth Challenge Program’s direction, in a joint effort with the construction class is ready to bring new life via a gazebo and new plantings at the preserve.

“The gazebo and landscaping was birthed from months of labor with the leadership classes and from our dream of using hands-on projects to teach real-world skills. We had a vision to captivate students’ interest, turning them into engrossed learners while serving the community” said Michele Sutter, MYCP District Prevention Coordinator. Sutter has been working in the park area with Leadership Class students since January 2005.

Under the tutelage of Sutter and two other CSHS teachers, Leadership Teacher Anjanette McGregor and Construction Teacher Linda Pepin, students planned to expand the previous classes’ efforts at the garden site by planting additional butterfly-attracting plants and maintaining the existing butterfly garden as well as construct a gazebo in the park area next to the Children’s Memorial Tree Garden. All of this is located at the Islamorada Village of Island’s Plantation Tropical Preserve (PTP) at mile marker 90 bayside on Plantation Key. This project incorporates skills in: reading, writing, speaking and listening, mathematics, science, and occupational objectives for a building construction helper and construction technician.

McGregor and Pepin helped Sutter write the grant for their classes because, “This project will create an area in the PTP that can be used as a meditation area for families that have memorial tress planted as well as the general public. The maintenance and expansion of the butterfly garden will restore and beautify an area that has been severely damaged by Hurricane Wilma,” said McGregor.

“This project is a valuable service project and will integrate vocational skills, mathematics, and a number of problem solving skills,” added Pepin.

Students from both classes worked with a variety of people in order to complete the project, such as community government officials, contractors, peers, project supervisors, consultants, and school administrators. They also interacted with community members that are members of the memorial park and to keep records of the project. In the final phase, they must keep track of finances and the project budget.

Now that the gazebo is complete, students plan to create a PowerPoint presentation using photographs taken at each phase of the project to use in the school’s closed caption television and the school web site. They also plan to make a project presentation at a dedication celebration scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 22.

In order to evaluate the intellectual benefit of this service project, students are expected to develop surveys of the entire process and administer a rubric to score the impact of what they learned.

Sutter said, “It’s a pleasure teaching with a hands-on project like this where students see the value of what they’re learning. We’re especially grateful for the help from 4-H Extension Agent Kim Coldicott from the University of Florida, the at-cost gazebo kit and supplies to complete the gazebo donated by ForestTek Lumber, consultation provided by licensed general contractor Bob Guenther of Tavernier, and consultation by University of Florida Master Gardener Maryann Lemak.” Additional thanks go to The Village of Islamorada Parks and Recreation Department for their cooperation and support, and for the celebration picnic. In addition, to the Florida Keys Native Nursery, Dagny Johnson Key Largo Hammock Botanical State Park and Windley Key Fossil Reef State Geological Site for providing more than $500 worth of native plants. In all, the project value is almost $6,000.

A separate project, underwritten by a related Florida Learn and Serve grant, is the Children’s Memorial Park Scrapbook. The students hope to develop fundamental skills and creative approaches in photographic imagery by including formal and expressive elements in the presentation of the project. Formally, they are expected to: increase their art and photography vocabulary; use new equipment, tools, and materials; learn about different types of photographic media, software, processes, and techniques as well as elements of art and principles of design. As a result, they are to be graded on their presentation techniques, critical thinking and analysis, and the finished scrapbook. Their reflection process should reveal the personal and social benefits from the project.

The students are responsible for collecting and organizing all materials as well as proof reading the product before it goes to print. Finally, the students are responsible for creating a visual and written reflection documenting their work on the project.

After the research, the students are to compile a scrapbook including the history of the park and a visual photographic expression of the memorial trees and those they represent. This is to be a gift to the Village government and copies of the scrapbook are to be distributed to participating members.

“The end product of the project itself is primarily a reflection piece; however, the students involved would also be responsible for writing a reflective essay about what the project meant,” said Sutter. In addition, the students are to create a PowerPoint using photographs taken at each phase of the project, make a project presentation to the Leadership Class & write a press release. The PowerPoint is to be displayed on the school website and used on the school’s closed caption television.

The total value of the scrapbook project is $1180. Kelly Everson, Board Member of the Memorial Park and scrap booking hobbyist has provided the scrapbook materials. Local photographer Cindy Gray of Tavernier is giving her time as a consultant and her husband’s business, Dixie Aluminum on Plantation Key, made a donation to cover the film and processing expenses. Office Depot also provided a cash discount for the cost of copying the scrapbooks.

Monroe Youth Challenge Program is a project of the Monroe County Education Foundation to foster acceptance, respect, and success in the youth of Monroe County. For more information about this project, Challenge Day, Next Step, or any other MYCP sponsored program call MYCP District Prevention Coordinator Michele Sutter at (305) 852-1664 or go to www.keysschools.com. For information regarding Florida Learn and Serve, contact Monroe County School District Learn and Serve Grant Coordinator Sunny Booker at (305) 293-1400 ext. 319.