More than three years after a plane crash killed an Oak Harbor teacher, students and adults are still keeping her memory alive.

Students and other volunteers spent time last weekend cleaning and improving a learning garden that was installed in memory of Karen Mathews, a Broad View Elementary School teacher who died in a small plane crash just outside of Oak Harbor in April 2005. The memorial garden was installed after her death and people have been keeping it up ever since.

Saturday morning saw Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts descend upon the garden, which is placed in a group of Garry oak trees growing in the field next to the school. They were busy trying to protect the garden from invading weeds and blackberry bushes. Volunteers busied themselves laying down paper and cardboard and then covering it with mulch.

“The purpose of this is to kill weeds and make the garden look nice,” said David Donley, who is working to become an Eagle Scout. He and others spent their Saturday morning loading wheelbarrows full of mulch to spread over the paper and cardboard. They were also rolling rocks around to make the area easier to mow.

Nicolette Harrington, an art teacher at Broad View, said plastic could have been used, but it might have proved too slippery for the students.

In the years since the garden was installed, students have had to deal with weeds overrunning the popular gathering space. As late as last week, some students were out in the garden removing blackberry bushes, which is needed because they have a tendency to scratch the legs of an unsuspecting visitor.

In addition to the paper and mulch, Harrington was busy planting Kinninnick, strawberries and other drought tolerant plants in hopes it will develop some ground cover that will benefit the larger oak trees.

“Anything that will retain water will help the trees,” Harrington said. Everything planted not only has to survive a lack of rain, but also students walking through the garden.

The mulch will make the area easier to maintain, which is a necessity because budget problems forced school officials to make cuts to the district’s maintenance department.

The garden, which includes concrete benches for the students, has developed into a popular place for classroom activities. Kindergartners have been out developing their skills of observation and third-graders have been out in the garden identifying birds.

Harrington said many students simply hang out there during breaks.

“What’s really delightful is during recess to find a kid out here sitting,” Harrington said.

Students and volunteers have been maintaining the garden since it was created in 2005. In early 2007, students held a fundraiser to repair the benches that were damaged by a winter windstorm.

Scouts from Troop 4065 spent the morning improving the garden. Donley said he heard about work that needed to be done on the learning garden from his mother, who happens to be the music teacher at Broad View.

He organized his fellow scouts to help out. Saturday’s service project is part of his work to become an Eagle Scout. The 17-year-old Coupeville High School and Running Start student has been a scout since he was 13. In addition to his Eagle badge, he needs to complete two more merit badges and go through an interview before he earns his Eagle Scout status. He needs to complete the work by the time he turns 18.

Harrington said the garden will continue to expand. She said more Garry oaks will be planted, which will eventually transform the garden into a grove.

She said support is needed to acquire plants and she is looking for groups to teach lessons to students.

Anybody wishing to get involved with the garden should call Broad View Elementary at 279-5250.