Moms, dads, sons, daughters, and friends gathered at Five Rivers
MetroParks Germantown to clear invasive trees and cattails and
collect prairie grass seeds for the park seed bank. The
Germantown metropark is one of the largest and most diverse in
the chain, containing large open grasslands, cedar glades, dry
hillside prairies, all stages of natural succession, several
ponds, and an exceptionally high quality stream, Twin Creek.
“It’s great to get outside and work in nature for an excellent
cause,” said parent Michael Dunn P’24. Michael and his wife
Susan and their son Gabe were among several families who
committed to working the three hours in one of the metropark
prairies. “You get outside to get inside,” said community
outreach and service coordinator Paige Zorniger ’08. Giving back
to the community in a natural setting exposes students and
families to a dramatic ecosystem, including educational
instructions that connect tasks to new knowledge about nature,
the environment, science, and sustainability. Volu