Thanks to a $10,000 grant from TurfMutt, an environmental stewardship and education program managed by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) Research and Education Foundation, and some help from Massey Services, headquartered in Orlando, a new outdoor classroom debuted at Guardian Angels Catholic School in Clearwater, Fla. and is ready to help kids learn valuable science, math and other lessons about the environment and living landscapes. A dedication ceremony took place Thursday, November 9 at the school. A check representing the $10,000 grant was presented and the outdoor classroom was toured.
The new outdoor space is the result of one fifth-grader’s creativity and hard work. Student Marissa Weber of Palm Harbor, Fla. won the TurfMutt “Be a Backyard Superhero” contest earlier this year. Her winning entry was a story depicting TurfMutt and the Outdoor Powers along with her original character “Earthy the Worm” fighting Dust Demon, a TurfMutt-branded evil character, to encourage healthy soil.
The contest is sponsored annually by TurfMutt, which inspires and educates students in grades K-5 and their families, encouraging them to appreciate and care for the green spaces around them including their family’s yard, school yards, parks and more.
Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) encourages students at the Guardian Angels Catholic School in Clearwater, Fla., to appreciate and care of the green spaces around them – family’s yard, school yards, parks and more.
Adam Jones of Massey Services, Sandra Hoolihan of Guardian Angels Catholic School, Kris Kiser of OPEI, Mary Stalzer of Guardian Angels Catholic School and (in front,) student contest winner Marissa Weber.