ECOS Program - The University of Montana

School	Project summary
Big Sky demonstration project (pdf format)	The demonstration project for Big Sky High School was fired up on March 31st. The purpose of their demo project is to introduce students to the scientific method in a hands-on manner, using a locally relevant subject - fire. Several plots were burned at varying levels of intensity and temperature sticks were used to determine the heat of the fire. Students sampled soil characteristics, and plant and insect abundance and diversity before and after the burn. ECOS fellows will analyze the data and present it to the students for them to interpret.	Burning a plot at Big Sky High School.
Florence Carlton demonstration project (pdf format)	Big things have happened at the Florence Carlton outdoor classroom! This special part of their schoolyard has been designated as an official National Wildlife Federation (NWF) schoolyard habitat. A schoolyard habitat site not only provides inspiration for learning among students, teachers and the community, but will be an important part of the local ecosystem by providing essential habitat for wildlife. Certified schools receive resources, training and curriculum support	Florence Carlton's schoolyard is designated as a National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat.
Lewis and Clark demonstration project (pdf format)	The Lewis and Clark project was two-fold: Creation of a worm composting system and "science backpacks." Students choose a worm composting system to reduce lunch wastes and provide compost for their outdoor classroom; fellows saw this as a vehicle to teach nutrient cycling. Missoula has an environment ideal for ecology field trips, hence the ECOS committee decided to create "science backpacks" to aid in observing local ecology. We introduced the composting project to the school and began composting. The worm bins have been used in classroom investigations. We anticipate implementation of the composting systems in the lunch room by early next school year. The "science backpacks" will be ready to use early next year as well.	Lewis and Clark students put their composting knowledge to work.
Sussex demonstration project (pdf format)	Sussex School is restoring a schoolyard area from an exotic to a native environment while monitoring the biodiversity and ecological health before, during, and after restoration. All grades from K-8, will participate in project activities. The ECOS team and students will conduct plant, invertebrate, mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian surveys of the schoolyard. These activities will help students acquire skills in performing field research while comparing nonnative and native environments. This year’s ECOS team will work on restoration, begin a butterfly garden, and build a greenhouse. In the future, several educational themes will be applied to this area, including native plant restoration, riparian habitat, and weather monitoring.	Sussex students prepare their schoolyard by planting bird friendly native plants.
Target Range demonstration project (pdf format)	As part of the Target Range restoration garden demonstration project we initiated three main projects within the schoolyard: 1) treated an area of the schoolyard to reduce and contain noxious weed invasion 2) developed a noxious weed biocontrol monitoring and sampling program in cooperation with the Missoula County Weed District 3) restored and revegetated an area within the schoolyard with native northern Rocky Mountain plants, to be used as an outdoor ecological teaching laboratory. As the result of this project, s tudents displayed increased interest in the fauna and flora within their schoolyard.	Target Range students work on their native plant garden.