Marco Island Charter Middle School Celebrates Earth Day with Garden Box Project

On April 21, 2023, Marco Island Charter Middle School joined the world in celebrating Earth Day by creating the school’s first vegetable garden with boxes donated by Naples Botanical Garden with support through the Blue Zones Project. The project was a collaborative effort between the school's students, teachers, and community partners.

The garden boxes were created with the intention of promoting sustainable living practices and environmental awareness. Students worked together to plant a variety of vegetables, which will be maintained and harvested by the school's science students in grades six through eight.

The project was made possible through the generous donation of materials and support from Naples Botanical Garden and the Blue Zones Project. The Blue Zones Project is a community-wide initiative focused on promoting healthy and sustainable living practices. MICMS was recently recognized as a Blue Zone Project workplace.

"We are thrilled to have been able to partner with Naples Botanical Garden and the Blue Zones Project to make this project a reality," said Principal Michele Wheeler. "Our teachers were eager to create this wonderful outdoor space and passionate about promoting environmental sustainability. The project, spearheaded by our sixth-grade science teacher Kim Butun, gave students and staff an opportunity to take an active role in creating positive change."

The garden boxes will serve as a valuable learning resource for students and will help promote healthy and sustainable living practices in the school community. Students will have the opportunity to learn about the benefits of organic gardening, composting, and sustainable agriculture practices.

The school plans to continue the garden box project and hopes to expand its garden program in the future. "We are so proud of our students and science teachers for their hard work and dedication to creating a more sustainable future," said Principal Wheeler. "We hope that this project will inspire others in our community to take action and make a positive impact on the environment."

“MICMS’ science teachers worked as a team to ensure that each student had a chance to ‘get their hands in the dirt’ and plant,” said Butun, “this STEAM based project was a huge success with students voicing their excitement regarding both completing the planting and looking forward to seeing their harvest come to life.”

For more information on Marco Island Charter Middle School's Garden Box project or to learn more about the school's educational mission, please contact Principal Wheeler at (239)377-3200 or visit our website at www.micms.org.