School Cleanup Project Leads To $10K Prize
GWYN OAK, Md. (WJZ) When a middle school science teacher launched a project to clean a nearby stream, he hoped it could grow into something the whole school could participate in.
Now as Mike Schuh reports, it's become much more.
Middle schoolers from Southwest Academy help clean a stream and it's all part of a class project.
They're doing more than just cleaning trash--they took a scientific approach to see what was in the water--too much fertilizer and runoff, not enough oxygen. It's the brainchild of a teacher who keeps class humming along.
Joshua Foor-Houge leads an active engaged group.
"This class is fun, this is definitely my favorite class," said Camryn Mason.
Even, she says, when doing difficult things, like coming up with this plan to physically clean up the Dead Run and to figure out how to keep it clean.
It is such a good idea that this science contest decided to award Mr. Foor-Houge and his students $10,000 for their work and plans for the future.
"We're shocked to win, we didn't know we were going to win," said Umar Siddique.
"I'm going to use it for scholarship, I'm pretty sure it should be used for scholarship," Mason said.
It's credit the teacher deflects back to his class.
"The first quarter it's me doing my thing, but after that it's all them," Mr. Foor-Houge says.
It's obvious they've learned well.
"If we fix dead run, then Dead Run goes into the Gwyn Oaks Falls and Gwynn Oaks Falls connects into the Chesapeake Bay. If we start small it will fix the big problem for the Chesapeake Bay," said Siddique.
This son of a teacher has learned his lessons well.
Mr. Foor-Houge says, "Giving the kids something tangible, if they realize they can make an impact locally, then we can fix a much bigger problem."
That teacher is planning to expand the project so all of the science classes next year can take part.
