FRENCH LICK — The Pete Dye Golf Course in French Lick is known as one of the best golf courses in the United States, and it is about to get better, with the help of a class of fifth-graders at Throop Elementary in Paoli.
Course Superintendent Russ Apple has a goal of adding the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Certification for Golf Courses to the Dye list of accomplishments. The work the students have done brings him a step closer to meeting that goal.
“The Audubon Society has an award-winning education and certification program that helps golf courses enhance their natural areas and wildlife habitats," said Apple. "We want to make the Dye as environmentally friendly as possible.”
The focus of the program is to develop an environmental plan that promotes wildlife and habitat management, chemical use reduction and safety, water conservation, water quality management and outreach and education.
Over the summer, Apple enlisted the support of his mom, Janice Apple, a fifth-grade teacher at Throop. Together they reviewed state science standards and created activities that would involve her students. “We decided to take the problem-based learning approach and involve the students in the decision-making,” Janice Apple said. After an introductory lesson on ecosystems, the class was ready for a field trip to the course.
Armed with observation logs, cameras and lunches, the 26 students boarded a bus on Aug. 18, along with their teacher and several parents. After an overview of the course and how it was built, Russ Apple and his staff mentored students as they observed weather data recording instruments, measured the moisture content of the soil and recorded the green speed of the golf ball and the height of the grass. Using tools just like the pros, the young scientists recorded their data on paper and electronically. Next, it was time for some decision-making. What parts of the course needed water? After analyzing their data and recording it in a software program, the fifth graders were able to pinpoint exact areas of turf that needed more moisture. With a push of a button on a mobile device, they were able to turn on the irrigation system exactly where it was needed. “It was a real wow factor when each sprinkler they selected began spewing water onto the greens. But students suddenly understood that we do have the ability to make change in our ecosystems,” observed their teacher, “and that we can do it in a responsible manner.”
That idea was reinforced when they took to a putting green and measured soil compaction and grass height, and compared the speed of balls on the green, then recommended which area needed the soil compressed.
The last data collected on the trip was an observation log of producers, consumers, decomposers and non-living things. Students then inferred that that the ecosystem at the course would benefit from a more diverse habitat to invite more pollinators to the area, such as bees and butterflies. Their solution was to plant more flowers, and Russ Apple agreed.
After lunch and an interview with Russ Apple about careers involving science, math and technology, the students hopped aboard golf carts, armed with bags of wildflower seed. “I got excited when we came to the plot of land and I saw the seeder. I knew what we were doing … planting flowers for the future source of food for the bees and creating a beautiful spot on the golf course. I was so proud,” said student Cora Austin.
Classmate Jackie Crews added, “We planted a memory in our hearts that will stay forever. I cannot wait to come back and see what a little class like us did to help Orange County.”
Janice Apple said, “This project provides a great application of many academic standards. We are also able to incorporate technology, as students work together to record and analyze data, then create solutions to problems and share their findings online,” she explained. They are already swelling with pride as they get email updates and photos of their seeds germinating from Supt. Apple. By spring, there should be some blooms and signage in the area. Long-term plans may indeed include beehives.
Paoli Community School Corporation Supt. Casey Brewster is also excited about the project. “This is a wonderful implementation of our school’s new vision. I appreciate the partnership of the Pete Dye experts with our students and the opportunity the project provides for the class to share innovative ideas and solutions to real-world problems.”
Meanwhile, students are continuing their scientific study of ecosystems and the importance of keeping balance in nature. The interdependence theme will continue throughout the school year, as students read about John James Audubon, create their own mini-terrariums, food chains and webs and conduct experiments. They will use the scientific method to alter variables and see the effects while learning that humans can help to create the interdependence needed for survival.