Glacier Park Elementary school in Maple Valley , Wash. received a greenhouse from the International Greenhouse company and a $1,000 grant from the Washington State Potato Commission during a ceremony recently as part of the Kids Are Growing competition.

“This is all part of our efforts to educate the public on potatoes—their nutrition, value to the state and what it takes to grow them,” said Karen Bonaudi, WSPC Assistant Executive Director. “This is the third year we have collaborated with International Greenhouse and KING5 on this program."

The grant and greenhouse will enable Glacier Park’s students to participate in environmental education with hands on learning, said Rob Sjogren, Green River Community College Natural Resources program, who was in attendance at the ceremony. The grant will be used to purchase garden supplies, according to a Glacier Park Elementary publication.

Green River’s Natural Resource program in conjunction with the Veteran’s Conservation Corp. will construct the concrete floor and assemble the greenhouse for Glacier Park, said Mark Seery, VCC field coordinator.

“Building the greenhouse to help the kids educate themselves,” said Seery. “A lot of our people have expertise in construction and pouring cement.”

The greenhouse will be built this spring and located adjacent to a garden on the school’s grounds according to a Glacier Park Elementary publication.

The Kids Are Growing winners in the past have benefited from increased parent and community support, according to Bonaudi. “It’s amazing to see the gardens and programs the schools have been able to create with help from local businesses.

Maple Valley resident and parent volunteer Kathy Brown proposed the contest to Glacier Park, and Emily Hard, Glacier Park's principal, along with Diane Ferris, a staff member at Glacier Park, put together the school's contest grant-winning entry.

The other winning schools were Oak Heights Elementary School, Lynnwood; Wildwood Elementary School, Federal Way; Cherry Valley Elementary School, Duvall; and Maple Elementary School, Seattle.