The Habitat
With a Douglas Fir forest behind it, and Dixon Creek running the length of the site, Hoover Elementary School is fortunate to have a beautiful natural environment that provides fantastic educational opportunities. Taking advantage of this wonderful setting, Hoover became a 4-H Wildlife Stewards Member School and all Hoover students are 4-H Wildlife Stewards or Hoover Habitat Heroes. Student activities in the habitat include performing nature-based research projects, invasive species removal, journaling, and drawing. With the help of a “Making Ripples Grant” from Benton County Soil and Water, Ms. McNutt’s Kindergarten class created a butterfly garden in 2007, which was then augmented with artwork from other Hoover students. The Kinders continue to maintain this garden, located in the west playground, for all Hoover students to enjoy. In 2009, all Hoover Habitat Heroes participated in the construction of an interpretive trail through the habitat that forms the basis for ongoing research and observation for students, as well as a natural area the community can enjoy (see link above).
This website provides a home for information about what is happening in Hoover Habitat, about the Hoover Habitat Interpretive trail, and about student habitat research projects. The website is new as of March 2010 but will always be a work in progress as students and teachers add to the site.