Window of Opportunity Grant Project

Hillburn Academy

7100 Hilburn Academy Rd., Raleigh, NC

Wake County

Project: The Hilburn Pollinator Learning Corridor - Bees, Butterflies & Beyond

Application Request/Project Summary:

Hillburn Academy

Project: The Hillburn Pollinator Learning Corridor - Bees, Butterflies & Beyond

Narrative / Scope of Work

A K–8 Outdoor Classroom Dedicated to Native Pollinators and Sustainable Habitats

The Hilburn Pollinator Learning Corridor: Bees, Butterflies & Beyond will transform an underused grassy area (near 4th and 5th grade trailers) into a vibrant, sustainable outdoor learning environment. The space will include a Native Plant Pollinator Corridor, a Butterfly Life Cycle Garden, a Bee Habitat Zone, a Pollinator Observation Deck, and Student-Made Educational Signage.

This will be a living laboratory where students in grades K–8 can engage in hands-on investigations of pollination, migration, ecosystems, data collection, and environmental stewardship. The project directly supports year-round learning in literacy, math, art, and especially science, including life cycles, weather, ecosystems, sustainability, and interdependence of living organisms.

Key Components

Hilburn Pollinator Learning Corridor:

Native Plant Pollinator Corridor with milkweed, coneflower, mountain mint, asters, bee balm, black-eyed Susans, goldenrod, and annual nectar plants.
Butterfly Life Cycle Garden featuring host plants (milkweed, dill, fennel, parsley) and nectar flowers with a “Life Cycle Viewing Zone.”
Bee Habitat Zone including mason bee hotels, hollow stems, logs with drilled holes, sandy soil patches, and water sources for native bees.
Pollinator Observation Deck with seating for sketching, data collection, and scientific investigations.
Student-Made Signage such as “Meet the Monarch,” “Why Bees Matter,” “Host vs. Nectar Plants,” and

“Life Cycle of a Bee.”
Optional Sustainability Add-Ons such as a rain barrel, compost tumbler, wildflower seeding area, or leaf-litter overwintering zone.

Purpose & Expected Impact Purpose of the Project:

The Pollinator Learning Corridor is designed to:

Support native pollinators—including bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects.
Serve as a K–8 outdoor classroom that integrates science, literacy, math, art, and environmental stewardship.
Provide hands-on learning opportunities year-round.
Inspire students to take ownership of sustainability initiatives.
Create a beautiful, functional, and ecologically rich outdoor space for the entire school community.

Key Learnings for Students:

Connected to the aligned NC K–8 science standards:

Life cycles of butterflies, bees, and plants.
Interdependence between organisms and their environment.
The role of pollinators in ecosystems and food webs.
Human impact on the environment and sustainable solutions.
Weather and climate effects on living organisms.
Data collection, graphical representation, and scientific reasoning.

Impact on Students and the School:

Hands-on STEM Learning: Students become active investigators—collecting data, observing patterns, and engaging in inquiry-based learning.
Cross-Curricular Integration: Writing, art, math graphing, and digital literacy (QR-coded signage) enrich the learning experience.
Student Stewardship: Student teams (Bee Team, Butterfly Team, Water Warriors) cultivate responsibility and leadership.
Environmental Awareness: Students learn about conservation and the global importance of pollinators.
Community Engagement: Creates opportunities for partnerships with NC State Entomology, Raleigh Parks, local garden clubs, and the NC Museum of Natural Sciences.
Campus Beautification: The school gains a long-lasting, sustainable, visually inviting outdoor space.