5th Grade Environmental Project

May the FOREST be with You: 18th Annual Summit for the Planet Festival Returns May 4

Everyone is welcome and “may the forest be with you!” at the 18th annual Summit for the Planet on Saturday, May 4 from 9:00am to 1:00pm at Mount Madonna School. This free admission public festival begins with a 5K family hike that…

Watersheds and Ocean Ecosystems: Science Center Visit Enhances Learning

Recently, Mount Madonna School (MMS) fourth and fifth grade students visited the Seymour Marine Science Center at the University of California, Santa Cruz; this off-campus learning adventure was included to support students’ studies of local watersheds, food webs and the ocean ecosystems….

Family Redwood Hike and Eco-Carnival at 17th Annual Summit for the Planet Festival

From barn owls and bearded dragons to California kingsnakes and turkey vultures, the opportunity to get up close and hands-on with wildlife at the annual Summit for the Planet Earth Day festival is always a huge draw. Children and adults alike enjoy…

Seeking Volunteers: Fifth Graders to Lead March 25 Beach Cleanup

On Saturday, March 25 from 2:00 to 4:00pm, the Mount Madonna School (MMS) fifth grade class is organizing a community beach cleanup of Platforms Beach in Aptos. Volunteers of all ages are invited to join in the effort; the students will supply…

Protecting Pelicans: Fifth Grade’s Environmental Project

Each year, the Mount Madonna School (MMS) fifth grade class engages in a year-long, cross-curricular study focused on an environmental topic selected by the students. For 2022-23, students voted to focus on pelicans to raise public awareness and reduce the existential threats…

Invasive Species, Saving Redwoods and Forestry Management: Students Visit County Park

While Mount Madonna School (MMS) school buses pass through Mount Madonna County Park each weekday morning and afternoon, on a recent day, MMS third through fifth grade students rode the school bus to – not through – the park, for an opportunity…