Written by: Ainsley Hall and published in The Martinsburg Journal on March 27, 2025, link to the article HERE.
MARTINSBURG — Martinsburg High School’s Ecology Club invited members of the City of Martinsburg Stormwater Management team to teach students how to install a rain barrel for its pollinator garden on Tuesday.
After earning the Monarch Alliance grant for around $300, the club hopes to create a green space for the school.
Martinsburg High School biology teacher Melissa Gantt is the Ecology Club advisor. She shared that parent volunteer Savannah Hannon offered to organize the meeting. Hannon is working with the city to make more green spaces throughout Martinsburg to help the environment and give people more spaces to enjoy nature.
So, she reached out to the city’s stormwater management to see if it would be interested in coming to talk with the Ecology Club and helping install a rain barrel. The club plans to use the water to water their pollinator garden.
With help from the Monarch Alliance grant, the club plans to plant 98 native plants to help bees and other local pollinators. Gantt explained that with all the development going on throughout the area, many pollinators are being pushed out of their natural habitats.
“Bees are important for everything,” Gantt said. “Creating green spaces in the community will help them thrive.”
Thomas Joy and Nick Cole, president and vice president of the Ecology Club, were excited for the opportunity to learn more about the rain barrel. Cole shared that he was surprised by how easy it is to install one.
So, she reached out to the city’s stormwater management to see if it would be interested in coming to talk with the Ecology Club and helping install a rain barrel. The club plans to use the water to water their pollinator garden.
With help from the Monarch Alliance grant, the club plans to plant 98 native plants to help bees and other local pollinators. Gantt explained that with all the development going on throughout the area, many pollinators are being pushed out of their natural habitats.
“Bees are important for everything,” Gantt said. “Creating green spaces in the community will help them thrive.”
Thomas Joy and Nick Cole, president and vice president of the Ecology Club, were excited for the opportunity to learn more about the rain barrel. Cole shared that he was surprised by how easy it is to install one.
Cole shared that he believes having an opportunity like this is important, because it gives students like him the chance to make a difference.
“The main thing for us is to be able to improve the school and the outdoor environment,” Cole said. “It’s a chance to beautify the school and do our part to help the environment by planting the garden and use rainwater.”
During the discussion with members of the stormwater management team, Joy noticed how passionate they all were about what they do. They were excited to talk about stormwater management and how they protect the environment.
As a member of the Ecology Club, Joy wants to do his part and help others learn small things they can do to keep Berkeley County beautiful.
“I enjoy helping the Martinsburg community learn about ecology and raise awareness,” Joy said. “We want to help people understand the consequences of their actions and how they can help protect the environment.”
The club plans to finish the garden on May 20 before graduation. Gantt shared it will be one final project to send off their seniors as they take the next step.