SOMERS POINT — About 125 students in fifth and sixth grades at Jordan Road School enjoyed a beautiful day at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park earlier this month while learning about the environment of the bayfront venue during Save the Bluff.
Ken Berardis, the school’s new principal, called the event an “amazing learning opportunity that so many of our students would never experience without the efforts of our fifth and sixth grade teachers.”
Students circulated through five different stations with assistance from community groups such as the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, Atlantic County Utilities Authority, Department of Environmental Protection Fish and Wildlife and the Cape Atlantic Conservation District.
The Save the Bluff campaign was started in 2005 by the sixth grade teachers at the time and continues today as the annual environmental stewardship and conservation field trip, Berardis said.
“The original project began a long time ago, it just continued to grow and morph,” teacher Casey Edge said, noting the bluff, one of two in the state, is now secure but the education component remains.
Chrissy Quinn, a special education teacher for fifth and sixth grades, was a member of the staff when the event began.
“There were invasive species growing and it was kind of destroying the healthy parts of the bluff. So we took out all of the invasives, anything that was dead, and replanted with new native species,” Quinn said.
According to Edge, the original purpose was to address the imminent threat posed by erosion and neglect to the bluff.
“Erosion endangered the structural integrity of the bluff and posed a threat to the indigenous plant and animal species that inhabit the area,” Edge said. “By initiating action plans and raising awareness about erosion, the campaign aimed to protect and preserve the natural habitat.”
The campaign also provided a valuable educational opportunity for students. Through their involvement in researching and developing action plans, students gained practical experience in environmental science, ecology and conservation.
“They became familiar with indigenous plants and sea life in their community, while learning about their importance and the threats they face,” Edge said. “Through raising awareness about erosion and the importance of preserving local habitats, the students engage in environmental stewardship. The increased awareness fosters a sense of responsibility among community members toward the conservation of natural resources and encourages them to take action to protect the environment.”
The campaign has facilitated successful partnerships with key stakeholders such as the Great Egg Harbor Watershed Association, Cape Atlantic Soil Conservation District and the DEP Marine Resources Administration.
“These partnerships are essential for pooling resources, expertise and support to effectively address environmental challenges and implement sustainable solutions,” Edge said.
Among the partners was Ailish Haines, a junior environmental science student at Stockton University from Berlin. She and Dave Kreutz, of the Beesley’s Point Development Group in Upper Township, were working the seine net.
“I think it helps to know what’s out there for jobs because I don’t think school does a good job of telling you all what’s out there,” Haines said. “Knowing that there are jobs out there people may be more inclined to help find a future in environmental science,.”
Also present was Sharon McKenna of the Cape Atlantic Conservation District, who brought an inflatable soil tunnel to the event, where students learned about the components of soil, organisms that live there and its importance.
“We are going to tell them all about it by showing them on the soil tunnel, then they are going to play the soil plinko challenge,” McKenna said.
Through ongoing education and engagement, the field trip aims to have a lasting effect on the community’s attitudes and behaviors toward environmental conservation.
“By instilling a sense of responsibility and stewardship in the younger generation, the campaign lays the foundation for continued efforts to protect and preserve natural habitats for future generations,” Edge said.
Berardis said the Save the Bluff campaign and ongoing associated activities help protect a specific natural habitat but also foster environmental awareness, education and community engagement.
“Through these efforts, the campaign contributes to the long-term sustainability and well-being of both the local ecosystem and the broader community,” he said.
– STORY and PHOTOS by CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff