Saving Our Native Grasslands - Meadow Restoration

Saving Our Native Grasslands - Meadow Restoration

The Saving Our Native Grasslands (SONG) program is a comprehensive, three-part program that engages elementary students throughout the watershed in meadow restoration.

During the course of the program, students learn about the benefits of pervious surfaces, investigate the structure and purpose of seeds, and explore the different types of native wildlife that find a home in meadow areas.

Through the program, students are actively engaged in the restoration of meadow habitat throughout the Anacostia River watershed and directly along the Anacostia River. By establishing native meadow areas, students increase and strengthen the biodiversity of our watershed and provide stormwater mitigation in the form of natural pervious surfaces - making the river a cleaner, healthier, happier place for people and wildlife alike.

Brent 4th grade birdhouses
Brent Elementary students work together to construct bird houses.

A class visit led by our trained environmental educators teaches students about the value of meadow habitats and prepares students for two separate field trips.  One field trip includes a guided boat tour of the Anacostia River; the other includes hands-on restoration work during which students plant native wildflower seeds.  Students may also participate in a number of additional activities on their field trips, including the construction of bee and bird houses for native songbirds and pollinators.  

Program at a Glance

  • Engages elementary students from Maryland and Washington, D.C. in meadow restoration (can be adapted for other grades)
  • Offered September - November annually
  • Includes a class visit from AWS staff, a boat tour of the Anacostia River, and and restoration field trip to either Bladensburg, Maryland or Kingman Island in Washington, D.C.
  • Aligned with NGSS standards for 2nd grade

Lafayette Elementary students building mason bee housesLafayette Elementary students building mason bee houses
Brent Elementary students collect native meadow seeds; Lafayette Elementary students construct houses for mason bees!

More Information

For more information about this program, please contact our Manager of Education, Kendra Bierman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Learn more about our meadow restoration work by visiting our meadow restoration page.  Read more about a day with students in the meadow on the blog.

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