Hilltop High School
Students at Hilltop High School in Alberta are creating a hydroponic growing space in an empty boot room to begin growing food for their school.
Hilltop High School
Students at Hilltop High School in Alberta are creating a hydroponic growing space in an empty boot room to begin growing food for their school.
The Problem
Students in the science classes at Hilltop High School were excited about climate action, but didn’t know where to start when it came to making it a part of their school. So the N:OW for Net-Zero project application was taken on as an in-class contest for science students to try to dream up what some of these solutions might look like.
The Solution
The winning project idea was to use an old boot room to house a hydroponics system that could grow crops to be used by the food class to feed students throughout the year. The students took a full cycle approach, installing a rain barrel to supply the water and a composter in the food classroom so their waste can be put right back into creating more crops! The students presented their project and its success to the school’s parent council to advocate for more support for students to learn about local food systems and sustainability and how they can be a part of it!
50
students and teachers have led the implementation of Hilltop’s hydroponics project.
73
students and teachers in the school engaged in awareness raising campaigns about the project!
Lessons Learned
“After a year of working with the Net-Zero program, our project has been successfully implemented in the school. The hydroponics system has been moved to the lunchroom to maximize sunlight and allow students to easily access it. We have recently planted several sprouts using the hydroponics system, which will soon grow into vegetables. I am so grateful for this opportunity to improve our school and create a sustainable source of vegetables for students!”
Lucas Boudreau, Student Lead
“The participation was very very good from our students when we introduced this opportunity to them, and there were lots of students that were doing research above and beyond any thing that I could even imagine.”
Ms. Doepker
