Darden Elementary to host “Lowe’s Hero Project Day”

Darden Elementary to host “Lowe’s Hero Project Day”
Posted on 11/05/2020
Lowe's Heroes

Together with community partners, Darden Elementary will host a day-long restoration event to enhance outdoor trails around the school which serve as an outdoor learning environment.

Darden Elementary School will host a media event during their “Lowe’s Hero Project Day” at 10:00 a.m, on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. “Lowe’s Hero Project Day” will allow students, teachers, volunteers, and other community partners to work together to make the prairie and wetlands surrounding Darden Elementary School more accessible.

The event will allow media to shoot footage of the newly-restored trails and outdoor classroom, as well as opportunities for interviews with Principal Patricia Karban; Ed Levy, President of Freeman-Spicer Financial Services; Clay High School  Career and Technical Education (CTE) Construction Technology students; instructor Kevin Houk; Lowe’s Sales Supervisor Kyle Rantz; Lowe’s Store Manager Douglas Marlowe, and SBCSC leaders.

Students in Clay High School’s CTE construction program recently used materials paid for by the Lowe’s Heroes Grant to construct a boardwalk over the wetlands on Darden’s property. During June and July, the University of Notre Dame’s Biology Graduate Student Organization and local company, Watcon, Inc. worked to help clear the trail behind the school. The St. Joseph County’s Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) has also provided a $3,000 grant to restore the prairie behind the school. Samantha Buchanan, environmental education coordinator for the St. Joseph County SWCD mapped trails of the area, creating a guidebook for teacher-led hikes.

Another $1,000 was given to the school by Ed Levy, President of Freeman-Spicer Financial Services, to provide the entry boardwalk and trail signs for the school. The areas surrounding the school will serve as an outdoor classroom for Darden students to enjoy and learn about local wetlands, prairies, and wildlife.

“This day is only possible because of the generosity of our community partners and their love for our students,” said Patricia Karban, Principal at Darden Elementary. “We’re thrilled to be putting the final touches on these trails, prairies, and wetlands. These outdoor classrooms will become some of the most meaningful experiences in our learners' years at Darden."

“Lowe’s Hero Project Day” will allow for volunteers and community members to assist with cleaning the outdoor classroom area, hanging new signs at the trailhead, and mulching the trails.

Who: Darden Elementary School Principal Patricia Karban
Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings
CTE instructor Kevin Houk
Clay High School CTE students
Ed Levy, President of Freeman-Spicer Financial Services
Darden Elementary students
Lowe’s Sales Supervisor Kyle Rantz
Lowe’s Store Manager Douglas Marlow

Lowe’s volunteers

What: Lowe’s Heroes Day at Darden: Construction of wetland and prairie areas on the school’s grounds.

When: Wednesday, November 11, 2020 10:00 a.m.

Where: Darden Elementary School, 18645 Janet Street, South Bend, IN 46637

Contact: Monica Leyes, Assistant Director of Communications, [email protected], 574-393-6180 (w), 574-850-4760 (c)