• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
The Greenway Foundation

The Greenway Foundation

Revitalizing Rivers. Reconnecting Communities.

  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Project Map
    • Employment
    • Blog
    • Annual Report
    • Contact Us
  • SPREE
    • Elementary
      • Excursions (Field Trips)
        • Preschool SPREE Field Trip
        • Kindergarten SPREE Field Trip
        • First Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Second Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Third Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Fourth Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Fifth Grade SPREE Field Trip
      • Camps
        • Summer Camp
        • School Break Camp
    • Middle School
      • Leaders In Training
    • High School
      • River Rangers
      • Greenway Leadership Corps
    • Families
      • Family Events
      • Camps
        • Summer Camp
        • School Break Camp
      • Just for Kids
  • Stewardship
    • Clean Water Challenge
    • Nautilus
    • Gutter Bins
    • Volunteer
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Family Events
    • Stewardship Events
    • CROSSCURRENTS
    • Reception on the River
    • Gala on the Bridge
  • Give
  • SPREE
  • Elementary
    • Excursions (Field Trips)
      • Preschool (ECE)
      • Kindergarten
      • First Grade
      • Second Grade
      • Third Grade
      • Fourth Grade
      • Fifth Grade
      • Field Trip Signup
      • Field Trip Feedback
    • Camps
      • Summer Camp
      • School Break Camp
    • Scholarships
  • Middle School
    • Leaders In Training
  • High School
    • River Rangers
    • Greenway Leadership Corps
  • Families
    • Family Events
    • Camps
      • Summer Camp
      • School Break Camp
    • Just for Kids
    • Scholarships

WEEK 6: Plant Party: PLANTAPALOOZA!

This week we discovered the wonderful world around us from the perspective of a plant and explored how different plants support our South Platte River ecosystem. We learned how plants, grasses, leaves, and algae are the base of the food web that sustains life.

Monday was a hot start to the week and we embraced it just as plants need sun to grow. We started laying roots down by learning the different parts of a plant and how they work together. We even started growing some seeds to see how they sprout over the week. Then we went to cool down by the river and identify some of the special plants that can grow under water. We even found lots of animals that rely on those plants like ducks, crawdads, clams, and many more.

On Tuesday we were visited by our special guest from Denver Parks and Rec! They taught us how to make seed balls to plant native plants. We played a guessing game to learn which plants and animals are pollinators, and measured how big the biggest tree is compared to the size of our campers. Then later we checked in on our growing beans and got back in the river to see which critters we could find. 

This Wednesday was all about insect and plant relationships. These pollinators and their plant counterparts taught us lots about the special animals we have here in our park and our river. We used our eyes like bees to see secret messages hidden in flowers, and searched for more pollinators down by the river during critter crawl. 

Thursday was field day! We hiked all the way to Vanderbilt Park just upstream from us. We explored a new pond, learned many new tree types, and moved like all the parts of a tree. Even after a little storm we made it back safely to enjoy the cool air in the afternoon.

On Friday, we dissected some of the prettier parts of the plants in our park, the flowers. We learned all the important parts of the flowers, and their job in plant reproduction. After we basked in the beauty, we checked in on our bean sprouts and made some other seed balls to plant on our weekends.

Published: July 21, 2023
Category: Elementary, SPREE
SPREE

About SPREE

South Platte River Environmental Education (SPREE) has been introducing Denver area youth to the river through school excursions, day camps, weekend events, internships, and summer employment for over 40 years. Learn More

Previous Post:Week 5: Extreme Animals in Denver
Next Post:Week 7: CO Carnivores

Sidebar

Current News

Young Professionals Kick Off Earth Day Season

On April 17th, The Greenway Foundation organized a Young Professionals Trash Pick Up and Happy Hour at Cuernavaca Park. Young Professionals is a group that meets several times throughout the …

More Blog Posts

Event Recap: Teens Took Action at Johnson Habitat Park! 

An Unforgettable Winter Adventure: High School Students Hit the Trail!

The Greenway Leadership Corps’ Frozen Adventure at Echo Lake

Sign-up for Denver’s Free Weekly Compost Service 

Blog Categories

Blog Archive

  • 2025
  • 2024
  • 2023
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014

The Greenway Foundation

1820 Platte Street, Denver, CO 80202

info@greenwayfoundation.org

303.481.1974

FEIN: 51-0193575

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
1% for the Planet Nonprofit Partner
About Us
SPREE
Stewardship
Projects
Events
DONATE TODAY
SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST
CONTACT US

Copyright © 2025 · The Greenway Foundation · All Rights Reserved