Through this project students propagate and care for native wildflowers, as well as threatened and endangered plants both in their classroom and on their school site. To participate, teachers first attend a training workshop. Three GEPSN workshops have been held to date with approximately 65 teachers trained. Anne Shenk, Education Coordinator, SBG, and Jennifer Ceska, Conservation Coordinator, SBG, have developed the course and teacher notebook. Workshops prepare participants to teach about Georgia's endangered species, propagating native species, and conducting related science inquiry activities.

The workshops also provide an opportunity for teachers to meet and learn from GPCA scientists. Jim Affolter (Research Director, SBG), Tom Patrick (Botanist, Georgia Natural Heritage Program, DNR), and John Ruter (UGA Horticulture Department) have conducted insightful sessions at the workshops. Ron Determann (Atlanta Botanical Garden) has provided the technical expertise to develop pitcherplant bogs on school sites which has been a very exciting and successful element of the project. Data that classes collect (pollinators, bloom time, seed counts) can assist scientists who are studying Georgia's endangered plants.

In October 1997, GPCA educators and scientists went on a collecting trip to secure precious seed for participating classes. Seeds provided by GEPSN are germinated by students indoors under lights and transplanted to appropriate locations on the school site. Prior to receiving seed, teachers must apply for an official permit issued through the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to grow endangered plant species on their site. Jennifer Ceska, SBG, is the statewide permitting agent for the project. The permitting process provides a meaningful lesson to students on management and legal issues related to endangered plants.

GEPSN has its very own web page and newsletter! Installed in September 1997, the web page is part of the State Botanical Garden's Home Page, and may be visited at this address: http://www.uga.edu/botgarden/GEPSN.html. The first GEPSN newsletter, titled Green Plant Blues News, also was published in Fall 1997. Both the web page and newsletter support GEPSN teachers with a current seedlist, notices about upcoming workshops, and other relevant information about GEPSN. Science suitcase kits are currently under development to further support teacher efforts.

Teacher enthusiasm has been wonderful! Due to the hard work of Georgia teachers and students, many endangered plants have new homes. At least 12 pitcherplant bogs have been installed at network schools as well as beds for other sun and shade loving species. Several classes have created puppet shows to teach other kids about endangered plants. Best of all, kids are telling their parents and friends about Georgia's endangered plants, their problems, and what they can do to help. Education is key to GPCA efforts!

The project has been supported with funds from the Eisenhower Plan for Math and Science Education, the Georgia Initiative in Math and Science and the Turner Foundation, Inc.

Pictured: Madison High School students building a pitcherplant bog