Cape Coral HS students work on environmental sustainability projects

Students at Cape Coral High School are creating new life. Instead of learning inside, these students are taking a lesson in nature’s classroom. For months, they have worked toward revitalizing an ecosystem and have received grant money for their efforts.

We got a look at the student projects at Cape Coral High School Friday.

“As we developed the garden and the fruit forest and started to do the sustainability thing terrestrially, you know on land, we realized that that wasn’t enough,” said Lori Shaw, the environmental teacher at CCHS, who also oversees the global studies class.

Shaw and her students have their sights set on land and now water. The students she has supervised spent months restoring a local pond by introducing plants, animals and floating docks, which students helped build.

“When I first joined the club, that was pretty cool,” said Thomas Cramer, a senior at CCHS. “Got me into the club, just like, problem solving.”

The efforts of the students have gone noticed by environmental organizations in the community.

“I think that the Cape Coral High School did an amazing job putting together a pond that not only supports native species but also educates us on what those native species are and why they’re important,” said Sierra Moen, the outreach associate intern at Coastal Heartland & National Estuary Partnership.

Other groups include “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society.

“Well, it’s always more exciting to come and talk to the students, see what they’re learning and see what they’re doing,” said Wendy Kindig, the education committee chair for “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society. “And I think there’s such a pressure now for conservation education, and wildlife habitat and learning all about that.”

Shaw told us her students’ next project will be revamping their fruit forest and vegetable garden to learn more about sustainability, the culinary arts and pharmacy.

The students working on this project believe it will provide long-term benefits.

“We need to learn about sustainability to be able to have a better future for everyone,” said Sedona Scott, a senior at CCHS.