Oglethorpe Point Elementary School

For families new to Marsh Lab, here are some frequently asked questions to help you get familiar with our program:

What is Marsh Lab? Marsh Lab is a hands-on environmental education class sponsored by OPES PTA. Through experiments and outdoor exploration, students interact with wetlands and their inhabitants, learning how to be stewards of our environment. They will study freshwater wetlands, salt marshes, and estuaries around St. Simons Island, GA, all while connecting each lesson to their grade-specific science curriculum. Here are a few examples: third grade will become sand detectives by taking a spoon full of sand and learning about its properties using microscopes and other various science tools. Second graders will take apart a flower piece by piece to get an up close understanding of the different parts of a plant.

How often will my child visit Marsh Lab? Your child’s class will visit the Marsh Lab every other week on a designated day and time, with sessions running from October to March. Marsh Lab is an additional class outside of your child’s regular Specials rotation. Their teacher will be present to help integrate content from Marsh Lab into classroom learning.

How can I help? Marsh Lab is made possible through OPES PTA sponsorship, and any monetary donations will directly benefit the program. On Marsh Lab days, ask your child about what they learned, or take them for a walk to explore and reinforce their new knowledge. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Karen Garrett at karen.garrett@glynn.k12.ga.us or (912) 638-6200 ext 5613. Volunteers are crucial to the success of our program, from helping with the native plant garden and trail maintenance to assisting 5th graders with their salt marsh restoration projects.