2026-2027 School Year Programming We appreciate the continued support of Gaston County Schools and extend our sincere thanks to the administrators and educators who have approved our educational programming for classroom use. Resources Keep Gastonia Beautiful - First Semester Programming Kindergarten - Sea Turtle Survival 1st Grade - Hands on Dirt 2nd Grade - Eyes on Weather 3rd Grade - Tree Identification 4th Grade -Pollinator Adaptations 5th Grade - Vermicompost & the Soil Food Web Keep Gastonia Beautiful - Second Semester Programming Kindergarten - Super Trees Through the Seasons 1st Grade - Earth Magic
2nd Grade - Recycle Jams 3rd Grade - Waste Detectives 4th Grade - Wanderin’ about Watersheds? 5th Grade - Wrapping Up the Food Web
NEW THIS SCHOOL YEAR...CURRICULUM KITS Water Cycle Game- Incredible Journey Common Water Litter Clean Up FIELD TRIP STOPOVERS StoryWalk® at Rankin Lake Park Chronolog Time-Lapse Stations Did you know you can help scientists better understand pollinator populations in just 15 minutes? The Great Southeast Pollinator Census (GSEPC) is an annual community science project held each August that invites people of all ages to observe and count pollinators visiting flowering plants. Whether you're watching bees in your backyard, butterflies in a community garden, or pollinators at a local park, every count provides valuable data that helps researchers track pollinator diversity and abundance across the Southeast. Participating is simple, fun, and makes a real difference! To help you get started, Master Gardener Volunteers will be at the Gastonia Farmers Market on Saturday, August 15 and August 22 with census count sheets, educational materials, and other pollinator-themed goodies. Stop by to learn more, ask questions, and pick up everything you need to participate. Can't make it to the market? No problem! You can complete a census count right from your own backyard using the resources linked below. Together, we can help protect the pollinators that keep our gardens, farms, and natural spaces thriving. 2026 Great Southeast Pollinator Census Resources: Counting Sheet (English) (Spanish) Check out the GSEPC in NC Counting and Insect Identification Guide Chronolog Did you know that all the nature you're observing could actually be helpful to scientists and to different city departments to collect needed data? Keep Watch how the water changes at each location but clicking on the links below. Coming soon:
School Programs
Keep Gastonia Beautiful offers a variety of FREE, standards-aligned environmental education programs for public, private, charter, and homeschool students throughout Gaston County. Our engaging presentations are designed to complement classroom learning and inspire environmental stewardship through interactive, age-appropriate activities.
To request a program for your classroom or grade level, please complete this Program Request Form. Once your request has been submitted, the Keep Gastonia Beautiful staff member assigned to your school will contact you to confirm your preferred date and finalize the details.
If you have questions about our educational programs, please contact us at keepgastoniabeautifulnc@gmail.com. The staff member assigned to your school will be happy to assist you.
Program Information
• All programs are provided free of charge.
• Programs are designed for individual classroom presentations.
• Multiple classrooms or grade levels may be scheduled on the same day, based on staff availability.
• Programs are available for public, private, charter, and homeschool groups throughout Gaston County.
Printable flyer to share with your team
Printable document with all program descriptions to share with your team
Program Request Form
Students will be engaged in the non-fiction story of Duffy, a sea turtle, who was rescued after mistakenly eating plastic trash. After discovering ways to reduce our use of plastics, the class will join in a “fishing out plastic expedition” to save Duffy. NC Science Standards Correlations: LS.K.1
Feel how sand, silt and clay are different! Make a mud milkshake for the class to see what kinds of soil types you have at your school. Investigate local soil types and what amazing things we can do with soil from pottery to bricks and more! With hands-on learning (and wipes to clean up) students will get a feel for the “dirt beneath their feet! NC Science Standards Correlation: ESS.1.2
Students and teachers will learn how watching the weather, recording temperature and measuring rainfall can help determine patterns in plant growth and help us become better aware of the world around us. Students will learn how to use weather related scientific tools and participate in citizen science. Teachers can decide to turn this program into a year long investigation and borrow weather tools for the year to regularly chart and investigate the weather. NC Science Standards Correlation: ESS.2.1
North Carolina has so many different tree species and trees are an amazing kind of plant to study right outside your classroom! Explore 10 basic trees by identifying leaf shape and other distinguishing features in this hands-on exploration. Students will observe, classify, and take home a dichotomous key and leaf rubbings. NC Science Standards Correlation: LS.3.2
Bees and other pollinators are vital to our agricultural economy. After exploring the how’s and why’s of pollination, students will learn about adaptations and our environmental impact through a fast-paced game. This action-packed learning game works best outside with lots of room for our pollinators to get to work. NC Science Standards Correlation: LS.4.1
Introducing students to the “superhero” of composting - Worms! We will investigate food waste and its effect on landfills. Students will examine live worms and build a worm hotel from repurposed plastic soda bottles. Classes will keep this ecosystem throughout the school year in order to observe the worms’ living and eating patterns. NC Science Standards Correlation: LS.5.2
Superheroes come in all shapes and sizes. Learn the 5 superhero traits of the biggest plants on Earth: TREES! Student interactive presentation as we explore the benefits of trees throughout the year. NC Science Standards Correlation: LS.K.2
Learning through play! Students will get a small tray and build out the important parts to make a small local ecosystem: air, sunlight, soil, plants and animals will be added one at a time to create the best habitat! And you know what’s NOT in our perfect, magical Earth? Trash! NC Science Standards Correlation: L.S.1
Dive into the world of sound by crafting your very own musical instruments from recycled materials! In this hands-on adventure, young creators will explore how soundwaves work while learning the importance of reusing and recycling. Build, play, and discover the science of sound and the power of conservation—together! NC Science Standards Correlation: PS.2.2
Students will learn about waste while sorting through a mock trashcan based on real classroom waste. Using pickers and instructive charts, students will sort and weigh different types of garbage to create data sets to analyze. What kinds of habits can we work on to reduce our waste? NC Math Standards Correlation: NC.3.MD.3
Students will learn how rivers help to shape the land. They will have hands-on activities to build out a mountain range and then “rain” will form the rivers. Watch to see where the rain goes and pools. What happens when we have pollution in our communities? Where will it go when it rains? NC Science Standards Correlations: ESS.4.2
Students will complete the 1st Semester Vermicomposting Experiment by harvesting the worm castings and disassembling their worm hotel. They will investigate the ecosystem by looking for and identifying producers, consumers and decomposers in this hands-on Food Web wrap up. EOG Science Review
Need to enrich science time? We have kits that include everything you need for the following lessons.
Use our kit to send your students on the journey of a water drop. They will be surprised to see the “cycle” in action is not circular! Comes with options for indoor or outdoor set up and instructions. Pairs great with 5th grade water cycle curriculum, but can be used for any grade with ability to read and follow instructions independently.
How is water used and shared by people over time? In this kit you will have the opportunity to see how water resource use has changed as demand by society has increased. What happens if water is polluted? The kit includes sponges and food coloring with instructions. Makes a great addition to social studies/community discussions.
Do you have a group interested in a service project for Earth Day or want to beautify school grounds before a big event? Check out a kit that includes garbage bags, litter pickers and a scale. Return all items along with your record of how much litter your team collected! Send in pictures and we will shout you out on socials (as allowed).
Extend your field trip with a visit to one of our self-guided educational experiences!
Begin your journey at the boathouse and follow the short, paved path to the pavilions while enjoying a featured environmentally themed children's book. The StoryWalk® combines reading, movement, and nature for a fun learning experience.
Explore our Chronolog stations to see how local landscapes change over time. Visit one at the Rankin Lake Park bridge between the parking lots, and another along the Avon Creek Greenway near Lineberger Park
Pollinator Census
Join the Great Southeast Pollinator Census!
Chronolog
Gastonia Beautiful, in partnership with our Storm Water Utility Division, has installed two Chronolog stands along our waterways. Chronolog is Time-lapse Photography initiative, with devices installed at Rankin Lake (on the bridge between the Clubhouse and the Lake) and the Greenway at Lineberger Park (after the bridge and before Forest Drive).
How It Works:
1. Take a photo at one of the Chronolog devices.
2. Follow the instructions on the stand to email your photo to Chronolog, with the site specific code.
3. The online platform compiles and organizes these photos.
4. Watch as we capture environmental changes and track bank stability and erosion over time.
Your participation helps us monitor and protect our natural spaces. It's a fun and easy way to get involved in community science!
We all spend a lot of time outdoors, whether it’s at a park, on a bike path, or even just walking around town. Community Science allows us to share the things we see and experience while enjoying the great outdoors. If you like spending time in nature and want to help out your community, we encourage you to look into community science at our Chronolog stands. By our powers combined, we can track data to better understand what is happening in Gastonia and beyond.
Storywalk
Our Storywalk is located at Rankin Lake 1750 Rankin Lake Road, Gastonia, NC.
Start your journey by the boathouse and end by the pavilions. This is an all paved path along the waterfront with 13 pages for your family to enjoy!What is a StoryWalk®? It's a fun activity that engages families in literacy and getting active. Pages from a children's book are printed and placed in displays along a walkable path. Families will be able to walk a short path at Rankin Lake and read a page of a book at each stop.We welcome children of all ages, the chance to get out and read while they are at Rankin Lake!Tag us on social media or send us a picture of your group enjoying this new addition to our beautiful park!#KGBStoryWalkInterested in finding other Story Trails throughout the state? Head over to the NC State Library The Storywalk® concept was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier, VT and was developed with the help of Rachel Senechal, Kellogg-Hubbard Library. Now this concept has been brought to Gastonia provided by Gaston County DHHS through a grant to Keep Gastonia Beautiful.
Current featured book:
Little Turtle and the Changing Sea by Becky Davies
Save the Bees by Bethany Stahl
The Little Raindrop by Joanna Gray
Over in a River Flowing Out to the Sea by Marianne Berkes
The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming & Nicola Slater
Save the Butterflies by Bethany Stahl
Save the Air by Bethany Stahl
Mari the Mariola By Sarah McCune
I Can Save the Earth! by Allison Inches
NC Forest Service Grant
Hudson Boulevard Tree Maintenance and Planting Project
The City of Gastonia has been awarded funding through the North Carolina Forest Service Urban & Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program to improve the health, safety, and long-term sustainability of trees along Hudson Boulevard. Hudson Boulevard is one of Gastonia's primary transportation corridors, carrying thousands of vehicles each day and serves as an important gateway into the community. Over time, aging trees, storm damage, and vehicle impacts have resulted in dead and declining trees, hazardous limbs, remaining stumps, and noticeable gaps in the tree canopy. The Hudson Boulevard Tree Maintenance and Planting Project will include a comprehensive tree inventory and assessment, removal of dead and hazardous trees, stump grinding, soil remediation, and replanting with appropriate tree species selected for long-term success in the corridor environment. The project will also include the development of tree maintenance, planting, and post-planting care plans to help ensure the continued health of the corridor's urban forest.
Project Goals
Get Involved
Residents will have opportunities to learn about the project, provide feedback through a public survey, and follow project progress through the City's website, social media channels, and Tree Commission meetings.
Offices for Keep Gastonia Beautiful are located at the Garland Municipal Business Center at 150 S. York Street on the second floor.