GAMS American Chestnut Fund
Donation protected
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED! WE HAVE REACHED AND SURPASSED OUR GOAL, SO THE "DONATE" LINK HAS BEEN DEACTIVATED. PLEASE KEEP READING IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE ARE PLANNING HERE AT GAMS. THANKS AGAIN!
-GAMS SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
My name is Justin Klingler, and I am a science teacher at Gettysburg Area Middle School. I am part of a science department interested in giving our students real-world, hands-on science experiences. Please continue reading to see how you can help us make this a reality for our students.
The American Chestnut is an iconic species. Growing over 100 feet tall, and reaching ten feet in diameter, they were often referred to as the "Redwoods of the East". Chestnuts hold a special place in the culture, ecology, and history of our country, having composed roughly 1/4 of all trees in the eastern forest. Sadly, the American Chestnut has suffered from a fungal blight first brought to the U.S. in the early 1900's which has all but wiped out this magnifacent species. (Learn more about the American Chestnut Story here .)
Large American Chestnuts
Forest History Society, Durham, N.C.
There is hope for the Chestnuts, however, and we would love for our students to be part of it! There are strong efforts underway to try and bring back the American Chestnut, and restore it to it's former prominance.
Science teachers from all grade levels at our middle school in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Which lies at the heart of the historic chestnut range) have been training for the past six months to use American Chestnuts in our curriculum. We even held a school-wide assembly in November so all of our students could understand the importance of these trees to our forests, wildlife, and economy. They had many great questions about the trees, and were excited that we were going to grow them here!
Our Chesnut "Kickoff" assembly
In order for students to become fully immersed in the science associated with the trees and the blight, and to open up endless possibilites of study, we have plans to plant two groves of American Chestnut trees on our middle school campus this spring. We have received approximately 100 seeds to plant at our school. These seeds originate from trees who's parents were "survivors", or trees who have an innate genetic resistance to the blight.
Our seeds!
The seeds will be planted in two carefully-chosen locations on the middle school property. Students will be involved in all aspects of the project including soil testing (already done!), measuring, plotting, planting, and maintenance of the seedlings.
One of our future chestnut groves.
Once the seeds are in the ground this spring, they will start growing into a new generation of trees for our students to study. If, however, we leave the seedlings unprotected, they would most likely fall victim to the many critters who find young chestnut trees irresistable - deer, squirrels, mice and a host of other local fauna.
This is where you come in! In order to successfully establish our chestnut groves, our trees need to be protected and given the optimal growing conditions to thrive. This is accomplished by surrounding each young tree with a "tree tube", which not only protects the seedling, but provides a "mini greenhouse" for each of the new trees.
Tree Tube
National Arbor Day Foundation
We are seeking funding to purchase the needed materials (tube, stake, and zip ties) to surround each of our seedlings with a tree tube to ensure they have the best start possible. Our students will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the tubes.
Below is an itemized list of the materials, quantity, and associated cost of the items we will be purchasing with your donations (click on any item for a link to see exact pricing/purchase location):
- Fifty (50) 2' Tree Tubes - Approx. $100
- Fifty (50) 4' Tree Tubes - Approx. $200
- Fifty (50) 3' Oak Stakes - Approx. $40
- Fifty (50) 5' Oak Stakes - Approx. $60
- Three Hundered (300) Zip Ties - Approx. $25
- Tax, Shipping, Handling - Approx. $25
_____________________________________________
TOTAL COST: Approx. $450
We THANK YOU for your consideration in donating to our American Chestnut fund!
Below are just SOME of the learning opportunities we hope to provide our students with our new trees.
- Scientific Methods - sampling techniques, measurement, experimental design
- Genetics - blight resistance, Chinese vs. American Chestnut, variation, inheritence, mutations, adaptations
- Chemistry - carbon studies, photosynthesis, oxalic acid production of fungus, pesticide/fungicide chemistry
- Ecology - populations, predator/prey relationships, invasive species
- Biology - Cellular structure, growth, reproduction
-GAMS SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
My name is Justin Klingler, and I am a science teacher at Gettysburg Area Middle School. I am part of a science department interested in giving our students real-world, hands-on science experiences. Please continue reading to see how you can help us make this a reality for our students.
The American Chestnut is an iconic species. Growing over 100 feet tall, and reaching ten feet in diameter, they were often referred to as the "Redwoods of the East". Chestnuts hold a special place in the culture, ecology, and history of our country, having composed roughly 1/4 of all trees in the eastern forest. Sadly, the American Chestnut has suffered from a fungal blight first brought to the U.S. in the early 1900's which has all but wiped out this magnifacent species. (Learn more about the American Chestnut Story here .)
Large American Chestnuts Forest History Society, Durham, N.C.
There is hope for the Chestnuts, however, and we would love for our students to be part of it! There are strong efforts underway to try and bring back the American Chestnut, and restore it to it's former prominance.
Science teachers from all grade levels at our middle school in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Which lies at the heart of the historic chestnut range) have been training for the past six months to use American Chestnuts in our curriculum. We even held a school-wide assembly in November so all of our students could understand the importance of these trees to our forests, wildlife, and economy. They had many great questions about the trees, and were excited that we were going to grow them here!
Our Chesnut "Kickoff" assemblyIn order for students to become fully immersed in the science associated with the trees and the blight, and to open up endless possibilites of study, we have plans to plant two groves of American Chestnut trees on our middle school campus this spring. We have received approximately 100 seeds to plant at our school. These seeds originate from trees who's parents were "survivors", or trees who have an innate genetic resistance to the blight.
Our seeds!The seeds will be planted in two carefully-chosen locations on the middle school property. Students will be involved in all aspects of the project including soil testing (already done!), measuring, plotting, planting, and maintenance of the seedlings.
One of our future chestnut groves.Once the seeds are in the ground this spring, they will start growing into a new generation of trees for our students to study. If, however, we leave the seedlings unprotected, they would most likely fall victim to the many critters who find young chestnut trees irresistable - deer, squirrels, mice and a host of other local fauna.
This is where you come in! In order to successfully establish our chestnut groves, our trees need to be protected and given the optimal growing conditions to thrive. This is accomplished by surrounding each young tree with a "tree tube", which not only protects the seedling, but provides a "mini greenhouse" for each of the new trees.
Tree TubeNational Arbor Day Foundation
We are seeking funding to purchase the needed materials (tube, stake, and zip ties) to surround each of our seedlings with a tree tube to ensure they have the best start possible. Our students will be responsible for the installation and maintenance of the tubes.
Below is an itemized list of the materials, quantity, and associated cost of the items we will be purchasing with your donations (click on any item for a link to see exact pricing/purchase location):
- Fifty (50) 2' Tree Tubes - Approx. $100
- Fifty (50) 4' Tree Tubes - Approx. $200
- Fifty (50) 3' Oak Stakes - Approx. $40
- Fifty (50) 5' Oak Stakes - Approx. $60
- Three Hundered (300) Zip Ties - Approx. $25
- Tax, Shipping, Handling - Approx. $25
_____________________________________________
TOTAL COST: Approx. $450
We THANK YOU for your consideration in donating to our American Chestnut fund!
Below are just SOME of the learning opportunities we hope to provide our students with our new trees.
- Scientific Methods - sampling techniques, measurement, experimental design
- Genetics - blight resistance, Chinese vs. American Chestnut, variation, inheritence, mutations, adaptations
- Chemistry - carbon studies, photosynthesis, oxalic acid production of fungus, pesticide/fungicide chemistry
- Ecology - populations, predator/prey relationships, invasive species
- Biology - Cellular structure, growth, reproduction
Organizer
Justin Klingler
Organizer
Gettysburg, PA
