File:Somers Middle School Planting Native Garden (8952728708).jpg

English: Somers Middle School students put in their native plant garden, the fourth of four schoolyard native plant gardens that were created over the last year from a joint Flathead National Forest and Flathead Audubon project.

In 2012, Flathead Audubon and Flathead National Forest received 16,000 dollars of funding from the Forest Service “More Kids in the Woods” program for the “Discovering Flathead’s Feathered Friends-Enhancing Schoolyard and National Forest Habitat” project. The funding supported native plant gardens at four different schools, including the expansion of Glacier High’s native bird garden last fall and the development of native plant gardens at three area elementary/middle schools, including Somers Middle School. Besides providing habitat for area birds, butterflies and insects, the native gardens offer a hands-on outdoor classroom for students. The native plant garden complements the school’s existing hydroponic shed, greenhouse and vegetable garden.

The “More Kids in the Woods” program and activities aim to get kids outdoors and connected to the natural world. Projects are designed to spark curiosity about nature, promote learning, and help to develop outdoor skills, interests and healthy lifestyles. “More Kids in the Woods” is a cost-share program where partners contribute their time, energy and resources to support outdoor learning.