The students of Hollywood Elementary School in Hollywood, Maryland wondered how their school could support a healthy habitat in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The students first examined the impact that recent construction and development had made on their local environment.

Starting with their own school, the students examined the effects that its construction had on the local ecosystem. Built in 1993 on 72 acres of property, the property originally included an open meadow, a running stream, as well as a forest and wetland community. The students began their project with two important questions, "Why don't we have animals in the open area behind the school?" and "How can we bring animals back to the school property?" Through the work of the students, the school grounds have been converted from a sterile lawn into a self-sustaining meadow environment.

Reestablishing, maintaining and examining the meadow habitat have become important aspects of the entire school's academic plan. A multidisciplinary approach to curriculum development integrates all aspects of the student's learning experience. Of course, like any living thing, the meadow continues to grow and develop. In fact, the original ¼ acre of meadow has grown to over ½ an acre all on its own! As the project began to mature, butterflies, amphibians, birds and even bats have been seen in and around the school property. The students have also demonstrated the importance of being a part of the environment, rather than being apart from it.

Conservation International (CI) had the following statement, " Conservation International found "The Meadow" to be an inspiring and well-rounded project. Children are key decision makers in all aspects of the project, which was cataloged by their questions about and interest in their immediate environment. The project is restoring biodiversity to a damaged ecosystem, and to date has resulted in measurable increases in species present near the school. There is also a clear link to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, showing how local actions affect the region.

Teachers and students use sound science to monitor and adapt the project and its scope. In addition to significant impacts on biodiversity, the project also demonstrates measurable impacts on children's learning, evident in MSPAP test scores. School-wide support is strong with multidisciplinary multi-grade integration of the project into the curriculum. CI applauds Hollywood Elementary's efforts to contribute to conservation and to serve as a model for other schools and communities."