Ponds The For Kids program is designed to give children and young adults a working appreciation for nature and ecology.  Additionally, other areas like art, creative writing and poetry can also be incorporated by respective teachers. The opportunities are many and the ideas are limitless on how a school can incorporate the Ponds for Kids program into their curriculum.
 

     In an effort to allow schools to show children how a functioning aquatic ecosystem works, Ponds for Kids enables schools to construct their own pond ecosystems. By installing a pond system that becomes self-sustaining in a controlled environment, students can observe the ebb and flow of nature happening before their eyes. Besides conducting experiments on water quality they can observe the animals that colonize the area on their own.  Great for science projects.
     Water is the source of all life. A pond installed properly will allow nature to flourish inside it year round. As the ecosystem evolves so will the educational opportunities
              
What does the school need to do?

It is the schools, teachers, and or students responsibility to raise the funds to cover the cost of materials used. This covers the pumps, plumbing, filters, lines, and other materials, but also the rocks, and gravel.  AI Jenkins Waterscaping, will donate their time and labor.

This is a hands-on experience, students  assist in excavation, moving rock, and building waterfalls, as well as installing the filtration system. The pride they feel in taking part in creating this pond will be felt for years to come. Future generations will benefit from this wonderful addition to the school.

Lucie Burke

Education Assistant

To Whom It May Concern,

In the spring of 2007, I worked with AI Jenkins and the staff of AI Jenkins Waterscaping in organizing the construction of a beautiful water garden at Sun Grove Montessori School in Ft. Pierce, FL. This involved several pre-construction meetings with AI Jenkins personally, going over pond layout, size, maintenance, and activities. All fifty of our Elementary age school children were included in every aspect of the waterfall and pond construction process. This entailed a week long construction of the eleven-foot diameter pond with three waterfalls! The children actually hauled rocks, dug the hole and even planted the plants. Their involvement made the pond their own. Mr. Jenkins and his crew donated the additional labor necessary and acquired all materials at reasonable price to help our school. AI Jenkins is a contractor that works in conjunction with the Ponds for Kids Program (www.pondsforkids.org).

I found Al Jenkins and his staff to be professional, patient and punctual through out the pond construction process. He is willing to take the time to thoroughly explain the construction and maintenance of the waterfall and pond. One other notable experience has been the simplicity of the installation: all we had to do was prep the site with electricity and then wait for Al Jenkins Waterscaping to arrive on the designated day. They delivered the rocks and brought all necessary construction materials with them, including a large variety of beautiful water plants, fish and cool

 T -shirts for all the kids!

Recently, Mr. Jenkins has been available to answer questions about continuing pond maintenance and wildlife living in the pond. As requested, he and his staff returned to install large boulders around the pond for sitting and a dry "riverbed" of rocks underneath an existing footbridge. The water garden.really looks beautiful and provides a habitat for native Florida Leopard frogs, which the children love to watch. We plan to use the pond as an area for reading and reflection when it is not being used for nature studies.

In summary, I highly recommend AI Jenkins Waterscaping for your pond construction needs!  They did a great job and the children think Al is the coolest guy in the world.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call me.

 Sincerely,

Lucie Burke

5610 Oleander Avenue, Fort Pierce, Florida 34982