PTO hears two presentations about outdoor education

As a late addition to the monthly meeting agenda, two students from Horn and Weber schools spoke to the Lucas PTO Monday about their participation in Planet Recapture, which is a new and growing youth environmental group in Iowa City. After starting last spring as a group of kids who love to play Capture the Flag, they've expanded from their initial commitment to spent 15 minutes before each game cleaning up their play area. In the fall, they partnered with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources IOWATER program to test water quality in Willow Creek Park. They also held a clean up that removed 1,000 pounds of waste and recyclables from the creek.

Now they are seeking additional participation and have petitioned all Iowa City principals to include Planet Recapture groups among their student organizations. They are looking for parent volunteers to lead each school chapter and will host members from all schools at their monthly meetings and activities. Contact information for the two students who started the group as well as their parents is available on the website linked above.

In addition, Fred Meyer with Backyard Abundance, spoke about his group's efforts to create and support natural playscapes and other opportunities for children to become immersed in nature. He cited examples of the group's collaborations with other schools including Willowwind here in Iowa City and Maharishi School in Fairfield. In addition, Backyard Abundance created an edible forest maze in Wetherby Park on Iowa City's Southeast side.

Additional details are outlined in the PTO meeting minutes. Natural playscape/outdoor classroom will be one of the items under discussion at the next meeting, Monday, Feb. 13, when the PTO finalizes its decisions for spending the money raised through the Make a Mighty Difference campaign. Technology and other classroom needs will also be under discussion for funding.