Rossi Elementary Students Restore School Rain Gardens

In November, the American Littoral Society returned to Anthony Rossi Elementary School in Vineland, NJ, to replant two of the rain gardens we first built in 2020. We were joined by teacher Amanda Trionfo’s 3rd graders.

These gardens were designed to capture stormwater before it can rush across the school’s parking lot, pick up pollutants, and flow into the storm drain leading to Menantico Creek and the Maurice River. By slowing that water down and allowing it to seep into the soil, the gardens help recharge the Kirkwood-Cohansey Aquifer while supporting native plants, pollinators, and the local wildlife that depends on them.

Over the years, Rossi students have become proud caretakers of these living classrooms, helping us weed, observe seasonal changes, and conduct mini “bio blitzes” to see what creatures call the gardens home.

This year, some plants needed replacing — and the kids jumped right in. Together we planted purple coneflower, coreopsis, sage, asters, and other native perennials. Fall may seem like an unusual time to garden, but it’s actually ideal: the cool weather gives new roots the whole winter to settle in, grow strong, and prepare for the heat of summer.

Hands-on stewardship like this is at the heart of the Littoral Society’s mission to inspire coastal conservation through education and community action. By empowering young people to care for the landscapes in their own backyards, we’re building not only greener school grounds but also a new generation of environmental stewards.

We’re grateful to the dedicated teachers and enthusiastic students at Rossi Elementary who continue to help us grow a healthier future — one plant, one rain garden, and one classroom at a time.

If you would like to learn more about our work with rain gardens or schools in southern New Jersey, contact Conservation Coordinator Zach Nickerson.

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