Deptford High senior Connor Becker built the garden at the back of Lake Tract Elementary School’s playground area over the summer as part of his Eagle Scout project.
Deptford High School senior Connor Becker opened a butterfly pollinator garden to a group of students at Lake Tract Elementary School – his alma mater – on Oct. 21.
Becker built the site at the back of the school’s playground area over the summer as part of his Eagle Scout project, which requires a Boy Scout to design and build something that benefits the community. The process began when he presented the project first to the school’s prinicipal, then to the township school board at its June meeting.
“One of my goals for this,” Becker explained, “was for it to be used as a pseudo-outdoor classroom where the science classes can go outside and be able to view the flowers, plants and insects that are going to be around here.
“I believe this will help show the relationship with flowers and bees and how they depend on each other,” he noted, adding that the garden can also be applied to lessons on growth and development of particles for the third grade’s unit five.
“I believe that having a visual to the physical plants and flowers grow in that area will definitely help more.”
At the garden’s school opening, Becker described how the plot is wheelchair accessible and intended as a place of learning as well as a safe haven for butterflies.
“Connor installed specific plants to attract monarch butterflies, which are an endangered species,” the district posted on social media. “He hopes this garden will help grow their population, while also serving as a new component of our Spartans’ science curriculum.”
The garden can be explored anytime by both students and staff.
