Tropics come to the desert

Erica D. Johnson

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 | 10:52 a.m.

In the middle of the Nevada desert lies a tropical rain forest.

The muggy 80 percent humidity creates a blanket of moisture which hangs in the air. Iguanas, cockatoos and mosquito fish thrive in their natural habitat.

Nearly 100 species of plant life cover the area with vibrant shades of green. Occasionally a clap of thunder punctures the hum of crickets.

The 3,200-square-foot rain forest biosphere is part of a new science laboratory located at John C. Vanderburg Elementary School in Henderson.

The school was planning a student performance this morning honoring the project's partners at the Henderson Pavilion at Liberty Pointe, 250 Green Valley Parkway. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled to follow at the school's campus across the street.

School officials said the $1.2 million project, the first of its kind to be built on a school site, was created to serve as a hands-on experience to teach students about ecosystems.

The biosphere was created in what used to be the school's courtyard. Beginning next spring, it will be a destination for field trips for schools throughout Clark County.

Carolyn Reedom, Vanderburg's former principal and currently the district's assistant superintendent of the southeast region, came up with the idea six years ago.

"I had a vision," Reedom said. "I wanted to bring the rain forest to the desert. The study of plant life is a large part of the curriculum in elementary school. I believe science needs to be experience-based and hands-on."

Reedom came to Vanderburg in 1997 from Henderson's Estes M. McDoniel Elementary School where as principal, she created a marine lab to teach students about sea life.

She said the success of the marine lab, along with the need for more science-based programs in schools, fueled her idea.

"Science is a subject neglected in elementary schools primarily because it's the most difficult to teach and it requires the most preparation," Reedom said. "I wanted students to have a unique science experience."

The biosphere includes an interactive computer lab and six videocameras, which provide a live feed to the project's interactive website.

The Clark County School District didn't pay for any of the construction, Reedom said. Donations funded the entire project.

Reedom launched a campaign, garnering money and donations from local organizations such as the American Nevada Corp., Wynn Resorts, Retailworks and The Greenspun Corp. The Greenspun family owns both American Nevada Corp. and the Las Vegas Sun.

The Tate, Snyder and Kimsey architectural firm took on the project's design, meeting with students each week to get their input.

Doug Abell, vice president of construction commercial development for American Nevada Corp., was the biosphere's project manager.

When fund-raisers such as bake sales produced little money, Abell asked area contractors and material suppliers for donations.

"I told them if it could be done anywhere it could be done in Las Vegas," he said. "No one was selfish about it. People wanted to give something back to the community. It was like eating a big elephant a little bite at a time."

Hundreds of local contractors donated materials, with about 30 donating more than $40,000, he said.

Construction on the project took 4 1/2 years, Abell said.

"We could have made this thing a lot less dramatic and been finished earlier but we all felt there was no reason to compromise," he said. "It took longer than any construction project I've ever done in my life. But there's not a project I'm more proud of. It was truly was an accomplishment."

Eleven students will act as tour guides, or docents, for the biosphere, teaching their peers about the the plants and wildlife in the rain forest, Vanderburg science teacher Lisa Moran said.

Many of the docents said they felt lucky to have a rain forest on their own school campus.

"This is amazing because I've never been in a real rain forest before," fourth grader Danielle Cartelli said. "I think it's pretty cool to actually put a biosphere in a school so kids can get a real feel for how one looks."

Each docent is responsible for teaching visitors about a section of the rain forest.

Avery Brown, also a fourth grader, is in charge of the forest's plant lab, a small room in the middle of the biosphere.

"We'll have the largest seed in the world here," he said.

Students also will get a hands-on lesson in plant growth.

"The students will be planting seeds in recycled paper and they'll get to take the plants home," Brown said.

Other docents said the opportunity to teach their peers was what drew them to volunteer.

"I always wanted to be a teacher," fourth grader Jackie Dahlheimer said. "Now I feel like I'm actually doing it."