WALWORTH BARBOUR AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

Nature Reserve

The purpose of our nature reserve is to represent what Even Yehuda looked like 150 years ago before it was changed into farmland for growing crops. However, there are multiple research projects going on in the GAIA nature reserve. We have seven species of endangered flowers including the Beirut Mullen and the Poleg Iris; also, there are two species of endangered amphibians. In addition to the endangered species committee, we have multiple biblical subspecies of grapevines, pomegranate trees, and fig trees. 

Heritage Trees

The heritage trees research project is a collaborative project between WBAIS and Hakfar Hayarok that focuses on increasing the genetic diversity of crops such as wheat, fig, and grapes. Through the barcoding of the genetic makeup of biblical subspecies of pomegranate, vine, and fig GAIA is able to learn a lot about the genetic makeup of these ancient subspecies, information that is very important to increase the genetic diversity of such crops; the higher the genetic diversity of a species, the more resilient it is to pests and diseases that can greatly impact a non-diverse population and result in food shortages. This research project includes 4 types of grape vines, 5 types fig trees, and 2 types of pomegranate trees.

Children's Books

The educational committee primarily serves to enable the public to participate in and become knowledgeable about large-scale data collection and nature observation. Specifically, our work targets young audiences who cannot by themselves fully take in complex scientific information.  We have been working on mainly two types of products: educational pamphlets and a children’s book. The educational pamphlets go side by side with research that is currently being done, ultimately helping audiences to better comprehend the information. The children’s book informs children of important environmental issues. 

Yoni's Nest

The Story of how WBAIS Students Save Yoni the Chickadee

2,000 Copies in Hebrew, English, Greek, and Arabic (coming in Fall of 2021)

Rescuing the Beirut Mullen

Bringing a plant back from the brink of extinction

Fall of 2021

Trash to Treasure

The trash to treasure committee is responsible for upcycling and researching the devastating effects of the fashion industry on our planet. Trash to Treasure sew candy wrappers together to make bags and upcycle many other forms of trash into new and fashionable items. In addition, the committee is responsible for the annual GAIA second-hand sale, which has become a great success over the past few years. 

Wildlife Alliance

GAIA WBAIS is assisting the Wildlife Alliance in Cambodia. Wildlife Alliance is a nonprofit organization on the ground protection of forests and wildlife in Cambodia. The organization is at the forefront of fighting the illegal wildlife trade to prevent future pandemics and to save endangered species. Together with Wildlife Alliance, we (the GAIA project) are helping in the commune Prombai Mom in Cambodia. This Community Conservation Support Project is helping rangers who are protecting the banteng wild cattle population and other wildlife animals on the IUCN list. We in GAIA are supporting the building of a ranger station there, which we can make possible by selling snare bracelets. 

To learn more about Wildlife Alliance, click here

Biological Pest Control

This research group works on the premise of " Let Nature Fight Nature."  Students work with Great Tits (Parsus major), Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus) and the Barn Owl (Tyto alba).  Each species has a prominent position in teh 24/7 food chain.  Great Tits eat insects during the day as well as Kestrels with rodents and other creatures.  The Barn Owls eat rodents at night.  The night shift for eating insects will be covered by Microchiroptera.

DNA BARCODING

DNA Barcoding is a way to identify species based on a short segment of their genome, which was brought to the attention of scientists in 2003 by Canadian researcher Paul Hebert. The system works in a similar way as supermarket barcodes. Specific segments of genomes are used to identify specific species just like bar codes are used to identify specific products at a grocery store. In order to do this, we use a lifescanner app that’s designed to discover the diversity of living organisms to help contribute knowledge about genetic diversity. 

Owl Pellet Study

The GAIA Owl Pellet Project is in collaboration with The Charter Group of Wildlife Ecology. This project is presently the largest citizen science project in Israel and is supported by the Ministry of Education. Owl Pellets are collected from various points in the Hula Nature Reserve Area and other localities in the Galilee Region.  Students receive a research kit once their teacher(s) have gone through a workshop seminar hosted by GAIA and Dr. Motti Charter. The Owl Pellet Kits help research conservationists identify the types of rodents in a specific area and the possible movement of these rodents from one area to another.  Students learn to identify the skull and jaw (teeth) within the contents of the pellet. The results of the survey are then returned to the researchers to confirm the findings and added to the active database. Additional activities aligned with the structure and function of the skeletal system are also taught to students ranging from grades 7-12.

Live Owl Cam

Presently there is a breeding pair of owls on the WBAIS Campus in Even Yehuda.  In order to access the GAIA Bird Cam, please visit The Charter Group of Wildlife Ecology and then search for the Barn Owls Cam 1.  If there is a red flag at the bottom right that indicates if it is LIVE, then use that link.

Seafood Sustainability

The seafood sustainability research group is responsible for investigating “which fish to dish”, or what type of fish consumption is sustainable, and what fish species are greatly impacted by fishing and, consequently, should not be consumed. The group is responsible for classifying species of fish into three categories: green, or best choice, yellow, or think twice, and red, don’t buy.

Nectar Feeders

Palestinian Sunbirds are the only nectar-feeding birds in Israel. Although we don’t have Hummingbirds, Palestinian Sunbirds are quite similar. We have started a new experiment, called the nectar-feeding project, in order to learn about the food preferences of the Palestinian Sunbird. We created four different variations of sugar water, in order to determine which percentage the Sunbirds prefer. We created a solution that was 0% sugar, 10% sugar, 20% sugar, and 33% sugar. We placed one of each solution into a bird-feeder, and we hung them on a wooden plank on a tree in the WBAIS campus. We determined that along with sugar percentages, the order of bird-feeders may have an effect on which feeder the birds decide to eat from. Therefore, when we take measurements every Monday, we rearrange the order of the bird-feeders. By the end of a couple of weeks, whichever bird feeder has the lowest relative amount of food, will ultimately be the Sunbird’s food preference. 

Fire Ant Project

This project is in collaboration with The Israel Nature Authority, Tel Aviv University (Dr. Gilad Ben Tzvi), and Kfar HaYarok School (Mr. Rony Shoshan) and the middle school students at The American Community School of Athens. Students will progress through 4 research projects to gain a better idea of how to potentially stop the spread of Wasmannia auropunctata (the little fire ant), considered one of the world's top 100 most invasive species.

Vulture Project

Tracking Griffon Vultures in cooperation with The Charter Group of Wildlife Ecology. 

Insectivore Bats

Students will build and provide artificial housing for microbats (insectivore bats) to create new habitats for these endangered species. Due to habitat destruction and fragmentation, these bats have fewer places in which to reside. GAIA will be setting up artificial bat boxes in numerous locations in Israel to monitor the types of species that occupy these boxes, their status on the ICUN Red list, and look at ways to help enable the growth of their populations. 

AIS Apiary

GAIA Students from grades 4-12 are learning how to raise honey bees.  Our future Apiarists will take care of and maintain several bee hives on our campus.




Watergen





GAIA Greenhouse





GAIA Herb Garden





GAIA Ambassador Program