Platteville First Graders Plant Milkweed
Platteville first graders have been visiting the David Canny Rountree Branch trail for many years. First grade teacher Brooke Brockman says, “Yes, we have. 2016 was the grand opening of the trail, and the classes walked the part from Menard’s down to the parking area by where Rural was. Since I love the trail, I had to figure out a way to get us back to it! It was a perfect fit for our community unit and we've gone back every fall since.”
The first graders’ fall walk begins at the trailhead near the dog park and ends at China Buffet. Not only do the students enjoy nature as they walk, but they also are on a scavenger hunt. Everyone has a sheet with six different pictures from along the trail to find. Other teachers such as Mrs. Volkening, Mrs. Holthaus, Mrs. Sasse, Mrs. Zielinski, Mrs. King, Mrs. Runde, Ms. O'Driscoll, Ms. Deutsch, and Ms. Cristen also visited the trail.
In the spring, the first graders return to visit a different part of the trail and learn about native plants. Former trail board member and current volunteer Dan Flesch meets the group as they walk from Super 8 to Katie’s Garden. As they walk, Dan points out different plants and teaches the students about them.
This spring was an extra special visit. About 100 first graders learned about plants in their classroom, then grew milkweed to be planted in a restoration area along the trail. “Pre-pandemic, I had read an article about communities planting milkweed plants to help monarchs. I thought it could be a neat idea for the trail, but didn't know any logistics of it. Once plants became part of our reading curriculum, I wanted to revisit the possibility of doing this. That's how this began,” said Brockman.
“I received a grant from the Coulee Region Group Sierra Club to purchase grow lights and growing cups. The kids were really excited about growing them and they checked them every morning when they came in. They'd tell me when they thought the domed lid should be removed because the plants had grown too tall for the lids to be on!” Don Francis, one of PCA’s coordinators, provided the milkweed seeds.
On a nice day in May, Don, Clay Shaffer, and Dave Carnahan met the students and teachers at the restoration area to start digging holes for the new plants. One hundred healthy plants were added to the area! Students watered their plants and hoped for the best as they ventured on for their tour of Katie’s Garden.
Thank you, teachers and students, for helping to improve the trail and providing much needed habitat for monarchs and other pollinators.
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