Echo Lake Elementary certified as Wildlife Habitat

Mayor Keith McGlashan (center) presents the Wildlife Habitat Certificate to Native Plant Garden organizers (left to right) Donna Franklin, Richard Tinsley, Susie O'Donnell, and (in front) Karina O'Donnell

Echo Lake Elementary School at N 195 and Wallingford has joined the list of Shoreline schools certified as a wildlife habitat with the National Wildlife Federation.

In order to be certified, an organization or individual needs to have the following elements on their property: 

    •    Food Sources - For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
    •    Water Sources - For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
    •    Places for Cover - For example: Thicket, rock pile, birdhouse
    •    Places to Raise Young - For example: Dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
    •    Sustainable Gardening - For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer

Susie O'Donnell, a parent at the school,  Donna Franklin, Master Gardener and Echo Lake Neighborhood Association garden committee, and Richard Tinsley, of the Washington Native Plant Society, were the key players in creating a Native Plant garden at the school.  The garden is set up with four climate zones with appropriate native plants in each one.  Working with the teachers, a curriculum was created for the students to learn about plants and be part of creating and maintaining the Garden. (See previous article)

Because the Garden had all the elements,  the school decided to certify with the National Wildlife Federation.

The school celebrated its certification last Friday, December 17, at a school assembly. 

Students watched a slide show of their work in the Native Plant Garden. 

Courtney Sullivan of the NWF

Courtney Sullivan of the National Wildlife Federation presented the official sign to the school.

Boni Biery of Sustainable Shoreline spoke to the assembly on the importance of backyard habitats.  Boni is the person responsible for educating, assisting, and encouraging enough individuals in Shoreline to certify their yards, that the City of Shoreline, whose Mayor is Keith McGlashan, was able to certify the City of Shoreline with the Wildlife Federation. (See article from NWF) (See article on Boni)

Mayor McGlashan

Mayor Keith McGlashan made the formal presentation of the certificate to Paul Shanahan, co-principal of Echo Lake Elementary.

The celebration provided the opportunity to thank students, parents, teachers, and community members who were involved in the creation of Echo Lake’s native plant garden for their hard work that made the certification possible.

--with information from Susie O'Donnell