Revitalize, Restore, Replant!

About the Program

Category: Civic Education and Public Information (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

The Revitalize, Restore, Replant! (R3) program transforms existing stormwater facilities on Fairfax County Public School (FCPS) campuses into real-world teaching tools. In this free-of-charge program, stream ecologists from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) in Fairfax County, VA introduce students to stormwater and watershed ecosystems management through hands-on native plant installations in existing bioretention or dry pond facilities. Plant species are chosen to complement existing Commonwealth of Virginia Standards of Learning requirements. The goal of the program is to encourage students and teachers to use their local stormwater management facility as a long-term outdoor learning classroom without leaving their campus. Using guided questions designed by stream ecologists, teachers are provided grade-specific lesson plans to help connect Fairfax County Program of Studies materials to the facility. R3 is a win-win-win collaboration as it provides DPWES with an outreach and education opportunity to foster the connection between students and their environment, provides a cost effective opportunity for upkeep above and beyond the level of service that typical maintenance can provide, and gives students and teachers the opportunity to make local ecosystem connections in their backyard using a non-traditional teaching experience. Response to this program has been overwhelmingly positive from both teachers and students.