Watershed Stewardship & School Garden Sustainability Project

Project Summary

Middle school students in a lakeside community implemented a comprehensive sustainability project that connected watershed protection with school gardening, composting cafeteria waste, and community engagement, while participating in the local Green Steps program.

Detailed Story

At Beechwood Middle School in Lexington, South Carolina, 103 students led a multi-faceted sustainability project to protect their local watershed, which feeds directly into the lake many students live around. Building on previous sustainability initiatives, the project connected three key environmental concerns: waste management, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture. Students created a closed-loop system by composting cafeteria waste to feed their school garden, while learning how their actions affect the watershed that supports their community’s recreation, power generation, and food sources. The project incorporated hands-on learning experiences including making non-toxic citrus cleaners, conducting bi-monthly cleanups of the school grounds and watershed areas, and growing their own food. Students also engaged with town leaders to provide input on managing the rapid urban growth affecting their semi-rural community. When facing challenges with their crops, students embraced these difficulties as learning opportunities, gaining valuable insights about food systems and the complexities of sustainable agriculture. Through participation in the local Green Steps program, students developed a deeper understanding of environmental interconnectedness while taking meaningful action in their community.

Impact Statement

Established a sustainable school garden; implemented a cafeteria waste composting system; conducted regular watershed cleanups; created homemade eco-friendly cleaning products; engaged with local officials on urban planning issues; and developed students’ understanding of watershed ecology and food systems.