Local elementary school students now have the chance to explore nature in a state-of-the-art outdoor classroom.
With the help of a $40,000 grant from Toyota Mississippi, West Union Attendance Center’s new learning space will allow students to learn about water conservation, pollinators, wildlife and the environment.
“By connecting students with nature and teaching them about environmental stewardship, we are helping to cultivate a generation that values sustainability and understands the importance of protecting our planet,” said Rachel Parks, Environmental Engineer at Toyota Mississippi. “We look forward to more opportunities to share our environmental initiatives with our local communities.”
During the classroom reveal at the school’s campus in Myrtle, more than 40 third-grade students engaged in a variety of hands-on activities across three different stations. The projects included planting pollinator seeds, crafting paper butterflies and participating in Earth Month trivia. Students were also treated to a book reading led by Toyota assembly team member, Jennifer Harlow.
The Toyota team shared information on Toyota’s environmental commitment impact areas —carbon, water, circular economy, and biodiversity—reflecting the company’s long-standing commitment to environmental protection and respect for the planet as a core value.
Students also received Toyota-branded Earth Day goodies, including pollinator seeds, a solar-powered lantern, and a custom activity book.
Toyota Mississippi maintains more than 1,500 acres at its Blue Springs site thriving with tree afforestation, pollinator gardens, a bio-retention pond and wildlife habitat havens, which many faunae and flora call home including two indicator species: the Northern Bobwhite quail and the Wood duck. Stop by Toyota Mississippi’s Experience Center, Monday to Thursday, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. to learn more about our environmental efforts and take a tour of the plant.