North Middle School teacher David Bargardi has been working on building a nature trail behind his school for nearly two years now.

This spring, he has been putting his science students to work raking, putting down wood chips, sawing off dangerous limbs and picking up garbage.

Most of the trail is completed, but Bargardi said that a portion of the trail is muddy, and he’d like to build some decking over the wet portion of the trail.

Bargardi wants to use the nature trail as a teaching tool; eventually, trees along the path will have markers identifying the species, and bird- and bat-houses will be installed.

Bargardi has already installed three benches made out of recycled plastic at various points along the trail. Money for the benches was donated by EQ-The Environmental Quality company.

The middle school science teacher said that many other area teachers have been contributing to the project.

One high school teacher has agreed to make identification plaques for the various tree species, and another teacher has offered to make and donate an entrance sign. Yet another teacher is having her class make birdhouses for the trail.

His hope is that teachers from every area of the curriculum will be able to use the trail as a teaching tool, not just science classes.

English teachers could bring students out to write about nature, math teachers could incorporate the trail into lessons about measuring or statistics, and physical education teachers could take students for walks along the trail.

The trail will also be available for anyone in the general public to use as a recreational area.

Bargardi said he hopes to hold a ceremony to dedicate the trail in the fall.

In the meantime, he said he is still accepting donations to buy equipment like gloves and saws, and he would love it if a local business would supply lumber for decking over the wet area of the nature trail.

For more information about the nature trail, or to make a donation toward the project, call Bargardi at the North Middle School office at 1-734-697-9171.

Nature Trail Index | Overview | Class Activities  | Fauna: Mammals | Birds | Reptiles & Amphibians |
Flora: Trees | Bushes, Vines & Flowers  | Photo Gallery: Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall |
A Small Woods in a Wider World  | DNR Report | Newspaper Article |
North Middle School Home | Van Buren Public Schools Home 

DISCLAIMER:  The Van Buren Public Schools District and its employees can in no way be held responsible for the connectivity or content of any web site. These resources are offered for your evaluation.
Please refer questions or comments to the Van Buren Public Schools web manager. This page was updated on 07/28/03.