ERMA – Recruits from Coast Guard Training Center (TRACEN) Cape May brought an outdoor courtyard another step closer to becoming an outdoor classroom at Lower Cape May Regional High School (LCMR) Oct. 21.
Joining faculty volunteers, some 80 recruits dug up and removed rocks and other debris in the yard, as part of organizers’ efforts to bridge the school with the Coast Guard community.
Lindsey Brost, chemistry teacher, Karen Williams-Kosten, science teacher, and Vice Principal Zachary Palombo collaborated with Command Master Chief Bill Hollandsworth of TRACEN Cape May about making the clean-up effort for one of the courtyards at the high school go from a fantasy to a reality.
The wish to have the years of overgrowth removed and the grounds prepped for the spring took place over two weekends. The first round on Oct. 14 involved active-duty volunteers from TRACEN Cape May, and the Atlantic City and Philadelphia Coast Guard units. Following that, a full company of recruits, Charlie 195, were bused over to LCMR to help out with the finishing effort Oct. 21.
“The assistance that this Coast Guard community collaboration is providing the school is astronomical,” said Brost, “and is an excellent way to show the presence of our Coast Guard and its intertwined relationship with the local Cape May County community.
Brost said the area is one of four courtyards at the high school that is surrounded by classrooms. Over the years, it was neglected and became overgrown. “We teachers needed the tools and strength of these young men and women to help clear the area,” she noted.
Because the area is not easily accessible, she said they have to go through the classrooms to access it, the work needed to be done when the students weren’t there. On Oct. 14, heavy equipment was brought in to remove not only the overgrown vegetation but tree stumps and rocks as well.
As for the future of this project, the teachers are already drafting ideas for how they will allow their classes to contribute to the beautification this spring, while also providing the students with hands-on and interactive teaching lessons.
“Karen is planning a rain garden,” said Brost, “so we’ll have a renewable source of energy to water our plants.” The goal is to have something “low maintenance,” especially since the students and staff are not in school during the summer.
“We’ll figure it out so by next fall we’re using the space,” added Brost.
“The recruits from Charlie 195 immediately started working as a team and the progress made was astronomical,” she said. “The recruits are encouraged to involve themselves with local community volunteer opportunities throughout their career. We hope they were able to take away how appreciative their hard work was.”
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.
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