Ardmore High School naturalist studies awarded project of the year

Published 11:30 am Saturday, November 4, 2023

The Ardmore High School Naturalist Studies Program was recently awarded the 2023 Project of the Year by the Alabama Mountains, Rivers & Valleys RC&D Council. Ardmore High school teacher Starr Weems accepted the award recently at the AMRV RC&D annual meeting in Guntersville.

AMRV RC&D supports and sponsors educational and community development projects throughout North Alabama. They sponsor approximately 60 projects each year and this year Weems and the Ardmore Naturalist Studies Program topped them all.

“It is a program developed several years back because I wanted to involve students in building outdoor skills, in community science initiatives, and, overall, promote a positive conservation ethic and get them in touch with nature,” Weems said.

Weems developed the program six years ago for grades 9-12. The class is integrated with the Limestone County 4H program and all the students are members of 4H. Limestone County Extension Coordinator Chloe Wilson worked with Weems to develop the Naturalist Studies Program at Ardmore.

The program began as an after school club but it has now expanded into two for-credit classes. Through the program, Weems has taken her students camping, kayaking, repelling and other adventures.

“They become Alabama Water Watch volunteers. They learn to test the waters here. They have built an outdoor classroom. They grow herbs and native plants, and I teach them how to do things with those like make soaps, medicines, salves and things like that. It is a multi-faceted program designed to get them in touch with nature and promote a positive conservation ethic,” she said.

Currently, the students are making soaps with lavender and mint they grew in the outdoor classroom. Next week, the class will visit Sugar Creek Elementary School to help with the new outdoor classroom there.

“I’ve had kids who have decided they wanted to go into environmental engineering or become a biologist after having gone through the program. I have been really surprised how into it some of the kids are that you would not think would even want to go outside. It’s really fun to watch them get so into it,” Weems said.

The class is integrated with the Limestone County 4H program and all the students are members of 4H. Limestone County Extension Coordinator Chloe Wilson worked with Weems to develop the Naturalist Studies Program at Ardmore.