Last week’s Ecoteer Day at Mission Hill School was a great success. Students and teachers dressed in green and took advantage of the beautiful, sunny weather-a welcome sight after a week of rain and indoor recess. While most activities took place out-of-doors, there were also some indoor alternatives on this special day of school-wide environmental volunteerism.
![triptyph](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/triptyph.png)
We were joined by friends from area environmental organizations: teacher/naturalists Andrew MacBlane and Ben Driscoll from the Mass Audubon Society Boston Nature Center; Wendy Simard from the Boston Natural Areas Network’s SLUG Program (students learning through urban gardening); and Green Schools Fellow for BPS, Phoebe Beierle, a sustainability coordinator working with the school district to advance whole-district sustainability initiatives.
![Untitled-1](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Untitled-1.png)
Workshops were offered to students of all ages throughout the day. Early on, Sarah’s class (grade 6) created signs to label recycling bins with (K/1 teacher and event organizer) Kathy D’Andrea, while Nakia and James’ students (grades 4/5) built worm composting bins for classrooms with Andrew and Ben.
![worms_triptych](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/worms_triptych.png)
The fun continued mid-morning for Jenerra and Jacob’s classes (grades 2/3 and 7/8), who did plantings in the schoolyard garden and created bird feeders, also with Andrew and Ben. Kathy lead Emily’s class (grades 2/3) in making eco-friendly cleaning solutions for classroom use.
![growing_triptych](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/growing_triptych.png)
Ecoteer Day culminated in a tree-planting event for our neighbors at the Parker Hill/Fenway Headstart. Kathy D’Andrea’s K/1 class, along with the help of Andrew, planted an apple tree in front of their building on Parker Street.
![tree_tryptich](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/tree_tryptich.png)
All of the students had an opportunity to dig, add compost and plant the tree, which was generously donated by City Farm. Many thanks to all who participated!
![final_tryptich](http://www.missionhillschool.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/final_tryptich.png)