Bay Grasses in Classes 2005 The Department of Natural Resources,
(DNR) in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF),
has completed its eighth season of the Bay Grasses in Classes
(BGIC) program. Since its inception in 1998, over 1,269 classes
and 32,000 students have been involved in the Bay Grasses in
Classes program. During this time students have planted over 2.5
acres of bottom surface in the Bay with the 425,000 plants grown
in their classrooms. Interested teachers from across the State
of Maryland were trained by DNR and CBF staff in January.
Teachers used the curriculum materials and online resources
provided to educate their classes on the importance of bay
grasses. Teachers were provided with materials necessary to
construct growth chambers in their classrooms including aquarium
equipment, sediment, and seeds or adult plants to propagate.
Teachers then actively engaged students in each phase of growing
bay grasses: mixing the soil, setting up the aquaria, and
planting seeds or vegetative m