Project Overview

The Environmental Science Team at Channel View School for Research in Queens, NY created this Upland Trail Guide and Calendar featuring the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.  Under the guidance of teacher/mentor Marianne Williams, the students spent two years visiting the refuge studying, documenting the wildlife and working on these products.

The field guide is geared toward educating both students and the general public about the native and invasive plants on the refuge.  Each entry features a photograph and written description of each plant including physical characteristics, where it can be found, what animals depend on the plant as a food source and uses for human consumption such as using the wood for furniture. 

The calendar, titled “The Natural World” takes an inspirational approach to learning about nature. Each month of this calendar features photographs, facts about the refuge, quotes and a section titled “words to live by”.  Each page also features the students’ interpretation of the Expeditionary Learning Design Principles.

The student’s work was featured as part of Art in the Park at the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center during a two-month exhibition.