It is the schools, teachers, and or students' responsibility to raise the funds to cover the cost of materials used. The expenses invested in constructing a standard 11' x 16' functioning pond ecosystem usually run around $1,500.00. Not only does this cover all of the pumps, plumbing, filters, liners and other gear, but also the rocks, gravel, mulch and topsoil as well. Whether through grants or fundraisers there are many options available to help an interested school pay for the material expenses.

The school's responsibility

In order to initiate the Ponds for Kids program at school, like any other new endeavor, there are many steps that must be taken and red tape that must be broken. The school principal must approve the program and he/she may also need the go ahead from the school board. However the benefits derived from such a program make the start-up effort well worthwhile. Because this is a school wide project, all departments can participate in, and gain from, this program. Aquascape Designs can show you how.


The Ecology and Biology students will be doing the actual construction and maintenance of the pond, but all science students will have many relevant topics open for class discussion, including, but not limited to:

• How to create a natural ecosystem in your environment
• The ecology of freshwater ecosystems
• The succession in ponds, lakes and wetlands
• Geophysical properties of water
• Chemical properties of water (bacteria, ph levels, the nitrogen cycle)
• The biology of flowing waters
• Water quality

History students learn that each state has its own state flower and state bird. Students can learn more about their state's history by bringing native plants and wildlife to their own pond. All sorts of critters and creatures--those that come naturally or those you stock--can make this pond a truly magical place. For example, just imagine all the varieties of fish that can be added!

Art students try to imagine a beautiful water lily floating in the middle of a sun streak with rippling water. Now they don't have to imagine it--they can see it and they can paint it! The pond is also a beautiful and calm place for students to contemplate their next work of art. Aquascape Designs is planning to sponsor an annual art contest for projects relating to the ponds installed in schools. Winners will receive college scholarship funds.

Students studying English will find the most comfortable place to read and write is sitting beside a beautiful pond. The sounds of the waterfall, the birds chirping and even the frogs croaking create a wonderful environment which will prompt those creative juices to flow! One writing project might be a press release to the local newspaper about the building of the pond. (This would also be good publicity for the school and will demonstrate a very imaginative way to educate students.)

If you have a beautiful pond with wonderful surroundings, you will need a place to sit and enjoy it. The Wood Shop students can use this environment to exhibit their hand-crafted chairs, tables and benches for everyone to enjoy. This also presents a great opportunity for special student projects.

How can the school's sports teams benefit from the construction of a pondPerhaps the day before a big game when the coach is trying to get everyone to concentrate on what lies before them, the perfect place for a relaxation talk is next to the pond. Here the team can enjoy the tranquil environment and concentrate on the sounds of the flowing water to get them into a relaxing frame of mind.

The Student Government can get very involved in the Ponds for Kids program. Students can be asked to vote on the many ideas about how they would like the pond to look and how it will be taken care of. These results can then be taken to faculty for final approval. There will also be a limited amount of funds allocated for the pond and the students will have to decide on how to spend this money. All of these activities will demonstrate democracy at its best.

Let's not forget the teachers--they're the ones shaping the minds of the leaders of tomorrow. Their jobs can get stressful and they may need a place to relax, or a place to sit and grade papers. What better place than next to the pondTeachers can enjoy the atmosphere their students have created--the water, the plants, the fish, the benches--and they can appreciate everything they have taught their students.

Other aspects that will have to be considered when teachers promote the Ponds for Kids Program include:

• Liability (finding a safe location for the pond)
• Methods used to raise the funds needed to support the Ponds for Kids Program
• The way in which the school will maintain the program in the future
• How to develop a curriculum which will utilize the Ponds for Kids Program
• Obtaining parental consent for those students involved in the construction.