Nestled at the base of the Boise Foothills and only blocks away from the Boise River, Rolling Hills Public Charter School is a rising star in the Treasure Valley. Rolling Hills is a true community school, sitting on land acquired from the Patten Dairy Farm. It has embraced its historical roots and the culture of the surrounding area through an ambitious Environmental Literacy and Living Classroom Initiative (ELLCI).

Focused on high academic achievement, Rolling Hills has employed the Harbor Method to deliver Shurley English, Saxon math paired with Harbor concept boards, and a hands-on science program.  Rolling Hills’ plan to pair its structured educational approach with a creative, discovery and inquiry based, approach to learning in its outdoor classroom is deliberate.

 Students need structure and routine, but they also need opportunities to apply and integrate knowledge across all grade levels. The ELLCI program that is embedded through-out the curriculum K-8 will allow this to occur seamlessly. For more information about the ELLCI program at each grade level, please click below on the PowerPoint presentation. If you are a parent or buisness that would like to become involved in Rolling Hill’s Environmental Literacy and Living Classroom Initiative please contact us at ellci@rhpcs.org.

Click here to view the Environmental Literacy and Living Classroom Initiative (ELLCI) presentation

A big thanks to our current ELLCI sponsors:

Franz Witte Nursery – Boise, ID

DG Nursery – Meridian, ID

Diamond Street Recycling – Boise, ID

 

Current Needs
Below is a list of items that are needed for the Outdoor Classroom. All items are welcome new or used (tax receipt given for donations): 

  • New or Used plant quads,flats, pots, etc. for growing vegetable seeds.
  • Potting Soil
  • (15+) plastic totes (Sterilite 32 quart, Sterilite about 64 quart, or 12 gallon flip-top tote solid tan one that is in-store at HD (NOT the clear ones – they are not sturdy enough). Any in this size range that are previously owned – if you don’t need them any more we will put them to good use organizing Science and ELLCI materials.
  • Gift certificates to “Draggin’ Wing Farms” Boise, ID for our native plant and xeroscaped gardens (http://waterthriftyplants.com/)
  • 6 foot tall garage type shelving for science storage room.
  • Green House
  • Plastic 55 gallon plastic drums for water collection.
  • Large plastic paint or food buckets with lids.
  • (2) 4″x4″ posts for mounting digital weather station and a kestrel box.
  • Materials for building analog weather instrument box/shelter, see examples: http://lumberjocks.com/projects/16511 and http://www.erh.noaa.gov/rah/education/edu2.html. The roof of the noaa one is better, but the loovers are better in the lumberjocks design. This design incorporates both: http://www.novalynx.com/380-600.html.

 
Volunteer Opportunities
Project: ELLCI weather station

Wanted: Classroom Environmental Ambassadors

  • Seek out local opportunities that pertain to the ELLCI focus for the class
  • Help bring in speakers to the classroom
  • Assist teacher in organizing ELLCI activities
  • Coordinate volunteers for ELLCI projects
  • Organize learning expeditions

***Contact us if you are interested! ***

ellci@rhpcs.org
Training Opportunities
Below is a list of training opportunities and classes available that pertain to Science and/or our ELLCI curriculum: