Several Mars Area Centennial School students joined in an Eco Challenge, held Sept. 17-18 at Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens.

At the event, fifth-graders learned about native species and the food web. Participants included fifth-graders Jack Baumgartel, Cayley Chaffee, Alexander Chernykh, Hannah Craver, Lila Demetris, Asher Detore, Gillian Everest, Lucy Harrison, Bennett Kreit, Landon Lewis, Ashrith Muppala, Laura Spaulding, Adalyn Stuber and Max Veneziano.

Sixth-graders tested the water quality of a pond, answered trivia questions, and searched for and observed Macroinvertebrates. Participants includes sixth-graders Reese Carrel, Noah Fecich, Ellie Kurnocik, Maxwell McEwen, Giovanni Morales, Hannah Nam, Benen Pears, Seth Pedicone, Kristin Sadhu, Alison White and Chaarvi Yogesh.

Both groups also completed a scavenger hunt in the Tropical Forest Palm Circle and were able to bring home a potted plant.

The event was the kickoff for Phipps Conservatory’s annual Fairchild Challenge, a free, multidisciplinary, standards-based environmental education outreach program designed to encourage students’ innate sense of curiosity about the world around them. The program empowers students to engage in civic life and to become energetic and knowledgeable members of their communities.

For more information, call (724) 625-2601.