The AYLUS Dix Hills Branch partnered with Bethpage State Park to create and expand an outdoor classroom for the local school in the Nature Discovery Garden. Volunteers cleared out invasive plant species such as English Ivy to create new paths, lining the newly created trails with tree branches, and raking away leaves on other paths to clearly show their locations. Later, mulch will be spread on the ground to create a nice walking surface and to encourage plant growth. Eventually, native vegetation that benefits the local wildlife and ecosystem will be planted in the place of the invasive species, and will be used by the local school as an outdoor classroom for teaching students about the natural environment. Plants will have small, noninvasive labels on metals rods to identify them, and to provide information to students using the area. Volunteers worked from 9:30 to 12:00 to create a clear area for students to learn about the ecosystem, where they can observe natural vegetation and learn how the plants affect the environment.
Volunteers: Jonathan Fan (3 hours), Bryan Fan (2.5 hours), Ming Chen (2.5 hours), Eric Gao (2.5 hours)
