GM FYI Blog

By Pat Schultz
GM SPO

A Wetland Tour Scavenger Hunt … What a special way to spend Earth Week!

The WE CARE Committee at Service Parts and Operations World Headquarters in Grand Blanc, Mich., worked with a variety of groups to present a fun-filled “field trip” with Myers Elementary School.

Julie Martin, from Myers Elementary in Grand Blanc, has been working with our committee for the last four years to make Earth Day/Week memorable for her students. The students (three fifth-grade classes with approximately 90 students) visited SPOHQ and its wetlands. GM SPO provided the activities for the day. The students came over with the expectation of competing in a scavenger hunt in the wetlands by touring it and finding clues. They looked for wetland plants, insects, birds, animals, as well as learning about this ecosystem. This day was just plain win, win, win for everyone. Here’s why.

The students from Myers Elementary win. They experienced a field trip in a unique setting. It was Earth Week, so of course we all had our minds on how to make our planet a better place. The students had been prepared by their own teachers - Julie Martin, Melanie Watkins and Robin McGinnis. Armed with their senses, they anticipated all of the wonderful things of nature to be seen. In addition, the winning team got some special attention and earned something for the school: a 6-foot Spruce tree for the school grounds and a plaque.

The Wetland “tour guides” win. For us, it was a fun day in the wetlands away from our phones, computers, etc. But the GM employees involved worked hard. Our energies were focused on a group of fifth-grade kids who wanted to run, scream, and grab whatever they saw. But, of course, due to the safety protocol they had to control their emotions! The tour guides were rewarded because the kids were so enthusiastic.

Take a look at quotes taken from some of the students. I think these statements say it all:

“I enjoyed seeing the snake and learning how it smells with its tongue. Also learning about how wetlands are a water filter.” -Jacob, Outlook Team
• “I liked spotting pictures for the scavenger hunt and finding animals.” -Ammar, Vue Team
• “I liked how we got to find things and explore and just be able to be with Mother Nature.” -Hanne, Solstice Team
• “This was fun!!!!!!!! I love looking at the wildlife and spotting out stuff! I love this place!” -Sierra, Volt Team
• “I really liked this field trip. The best part was when we dissected the cattails. That was fun!” -Taylor, Aura Team

Genesee County wins. The county, where SPOHQ is located, provided gift bags filled with pencils and magnets made from recycled products. They also provided pamphlets on how to recycle, as well as information on their park systems.

Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program and Parker Ostrander wins.
Parker, as an Americorp Member, is also an educator for the Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program. He provided a demonstration of a watershed model, as well as information on the Home*A*Syst program. (The Home*A*Syst is a confidential self-assessment program you can use to evaluate your home and property for pollution health risks, and contaminants that affect your groundwater.) Parker offered to demonstrate the effect of pollution on ground water, and he is willing to provide his services for any of the student families willing to sign up.

GM wins. As part of the program, each tour guide briefly highlighted their team’s car name and how these vehicles help to interact with the environment.

To see more photos from the event, make sure to check out our Flickr account.