Students at Fayette County Schools’s Fayetteville PK-8 are transforming an unused area of their campus into a meaningful outdoor learning environment through a student-led rain and pollinator garden project.
The initiative began with a simple but impactful question posed by students: how could they turn a back section of the school, known as “the ditch,” into a more interactive educational space? After analyzing school-wide survey data, students identified a need for additional outdoor learning opportunities and began developing a plan to create a rain and pollinator garden.
As part of the school’s work with the Empowerment Collaborative model, students organized themselves into a student-led company, elected leadership teams, and focused on projects designed to improve both their campus and the surrounding community.
The project was developed in partnership with the Fayetteville Water Quality Board and other local supporters. The rain garden is designed to help manage stormwater runoff and protect the local watershed, while the pollinator garden will provide habitat for bees, butterflies, and other important species.
Throughout the process, students applied skills in science, engineering, collaboration, and environmental problem-solving to create sustainable and realistic designs with lasting community impact.
According to Fayetteville Water Quality Board Chairman Gabe Pena, the project gives students an opportunity to better understand stormwater management and how small actions can help reduce flooding and improve community resilience.
Students involved in the project shared that hearing about flooding and water-related issues affecting local families inspired them to take action in ways that could positively impact their town, even through small but meaningful steps.
As the students prepare to transition into high school, they hope the garden project will continue to grow and evolve as part of their legacy at Fayetteville PK-8.
Source: “Fayetteville PK-8 Rain and Pollinator Garden,” reported by Tanner Beam for WOAY-TV.