I am a sixth-grade teacher at McNeil Canyon Elementary School and my students were involved in many field studies this spring. These experiences included citizen science trips to monitor the health of Beaver Creek, check for invasive species in Kachemak Bay, study plankton with local experts and scientists, and participate in a Leave No Trace spring camp-out in which students learned minimal impact practices.  

We would like to express our gratitude for the support we received from Alaska Hardy-Fritz Creek Gardens with our annual fundraiser of selling gift certificates. A donation of a generous percentage of those sales went to our class and helped fund our spring excursions. Daniel Stanislaw, the new owner, and Steven Veldstra, the manager, continued Rita Jo Shoultz’s tradition of this fundraiser and we were grateful they were willing to do this. We appreciate The Homer Bookstore for being a town outlet for our gift certificates and all the people who purchased them.

Thank you again for your continued support of education and our youth. Your support makes learning experiences possible which will help give our students the tools they need to understand the world around them as they become our future innovative scientists, engineers, technicians, leaders and citizens.   

Sheryl Sotelo, sixth-grade teacher

McNeil Canyon Elementary School 

and sixth-grade students