Students become gardeners at Bear Creek Elementary, thanks to project funded by credit union grant

(Update: Comments from teachers)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ)-- Thanks to a $2,000 community builder award from OnPoint Community Credit Union, Bear Creek Elementary has started an environmental learning project.

The garden project began with teachers Beth Spence and Angela Hogan.

During the school year, students have taken part in planting tulips, digging, building and shaping the garden. This project has become a community effort, receiving support from the Greater Bend Rotary Club, OSU Master Gardeners and local businesses that have donated soil, lumber, and tools.

"We are hoping to foster a lifelong love and learning of being outside and in the garden," Beth Spence said Friday. "Exposure to the color green, they say, is really important for learning and holding your attention, which is really important for our kids here at school."

Friday's snow and bitter cold didn't stop these future gardeners from tending to their work. The students were learning about the importance of soil, thanks to OSU Master Gardener Beth Young.

"Getting the beds prepared, mainly the kids have put in the soil, in the raised beds. They've been working on moving the soil into the beds from the ground," Young shared.

Spence says future plans include building "hoop houses" to prolong the growing season, creating pollinator gardens for bees and butterflies, and setting up an outdoor reading and sensory area with a mini-library.

"We're planning on making this whole garden space, accessible and inclusive to all abilities and cultures that we have of students that we have here at Bear Creek," she said.

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Below is information provided by OnPoint Credit Union:

This new environmental learning project was made possible with a $2,000 grant from OnPoint Community Credit Union’s Excellence in Education Community Builder Award. OnPoint is inviting nominations now through April 8 for its 2025 Excellence in Education awards, which are given to outstanding educators and school projects in the communities that OnPoint serves. 

Proven benefits of school gardens  

School gardens boost social connection, reduce stress and support mental well-being. Studies even link time spent in green spaces to a reduction in ADHD symptoms. The project is especially meaningful at Bear Creek, a Title I school where many students face food insecurity. As part of the project, teachers hope to plant fruit trees so kids have access to fresh produce even outside school hours.

The idea for Bear Creek’s learning garden became reality when teachers Beth Spence and Angela Hogan took the lead in applying for the OnPoint Excellence in Education Community Builder award. Over the last year, students have planted tulips, digging, building and shaping the space themselves. 

Coming up, the students plan to build hoop houses to extend the growing season, pollinator gardens for bees and butterflies, raised beds and pathways for students of all abilities and outdoor reading nooks with a mini library with nature-themed books. They will also eventually plant lavender and rosemary to create a sensory garden and marigold to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. 

A true community effort 

In the spirit of OnPoint’s Community Builder Award, the project gained momentum thanks to the Greater Bend Rotary Club, OSU Master Gardeners, and local businesses, which donated soil, lumber and tools.