Ridgeway students, staff describe 15-year Green Team program, outdoor classrooms and community partnerships

Ridgeway Elementary staff and students presented the Green Team program to the Hamilton City Board of Education, describing conservation work, outdoor classrooms and partnerships with local naturalists and agencies.

Assistant Principal Max (first name not specified) Wagonfield said the Green Team began about 15 years ago with "a simple patch of woods" behind the school and has since expanded to two trails and two outdoor classrooms. Wagonfield noted Ridgeway is an Ohio Wild School site, one of roughly 200 designated in the state.

Teacher-adviser Missus Schulte said Green Team members take action through service projects including recycling, creating a pollinator garden, removing invasive plants and conducting citizen-science bird counts. Staff listed community partners and resources used by the program: Houston Woods naturalists, Butler County researcher Jeff Davis, Miami Valley Audubon, Butler County Soil and Water, Fernald and Rumpke.

Sixth-grade students described specific activities. Sawyer Adams said the group finds feathers, fur, fossils and owl pellets on the trails and that "the things we discover are the best things Ive ever seen, and that is what makes the Green Team special." Elena Thomas said her "favorite part is taking care of our school trails," noting practices such as not littering and keeping noise low to protect wildlife. Hallie McKillip described the schools recycling routine, where teams collect classroom recycling, remove contaminated items and move recyclables to the bin. Autumn Isaacs said visiting speakers have influenced some students career thinking about environmental work. Max Wagonfield said Green Team fills bird feeders every Monday and they are "completely empty" by Friday, listing robins and blue jays among birds seen.

Staff described past community events that reached beyond the school, including astronomy night (attendees observed Jupiter) and an owl-calling night led by Metro Parks partners. The presenters said they hope to expand night events and broader community engagement this year.

Board members praised the programs growth and community use of the trails and distributed commemorative bracelets to the students. No policy or funding decisions were made during the presentation.