Orefield Middle School students recently converted a small courtyard at their school into an outdoor learning re-source project, a rain garden.

According to raingardennetwork.com, a rain garden is a shallow depression planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses.

The garden is positioned near a runoff source, such as a downspout, driveway or sump pump to capture rainwater runoff and stop the water from reaching the sewer system.

The Lehigh County Conservation District, in partnership with the school, Keystone Consulting Engineers Inc., and South Whitehall Township received a $3,000 Environmental Education Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to install the rain garden in a vacant area at the school, said Laura Hopek, watershed specialist with the Lehigh County Conservation District.

Hopek said the Lehigh County Conservation District also received a $500 grant from the Captain Planet Foundation Inc. to implement a bird exploration program at the middle school, which includes the installation of birdhouses and bird feeders and baths.

"The rain garden will attract local birds, butterflies and beneficial insects students can study, and the bird features will provide an opportunity to observe bird migration and eating habits," Hopek said. "We are using all native plants to attract the birds, butterflies and insects.

The converted courtyard will make a meaningful connection between school, the community and local environmental issues for the students without leaving school property, she explained.

Hopek said after she received the grant to install the rain garden, she emailed all environmental teachers in the area telling them about the grant.

Orefield Middle School jumped at the opportunity, she said.

"I have been working with the principal and the curriculum director at the school," she said. "They have been wonderful, very helpful and supportive. The school is going to work the rain garden into their curriculum."

Hopek said the river rock for the garden was donated by South Whitehall Township.

"They also have donated their time, equipment and compost for the project," she said. "I could not have done this project without the township. "They have been wonderful."