New Hampshire Project Learning Tree Announces Winners of Outdoor Classroom Grants
Concord, NH – May 13, 2015 – New Hampshire Project Learning Tree is pleased to announce the four winners of the Outdoor Classroom Special Fund grants. Each winner will receive a $250 grant to develop or improve outdoor classrooms for their students. These recipients will receive their checks at the New Hampshire Project Learning Tree Annual Celebration on May 17, 2015.
- Ledge Street School, Nashua, NH: The Ledge Street School will be adding a solar water pump and motion camera to their frog pond. The water pump will keep the pond water circulating, improving habitat for the tadpoles they raise there. The motion camera will enable students in all classrooms to watch the paid of Red Tail Hawks that visit and bath in the ponds. “I see smiles on their faces and wonderment in their eyes as they discover something new in the outdoor classroom.” said teacher Terri Ferullo. “I know other teachers are successful when students come up to me and say ‘Thank you for building the garden.’”
- Gilmanton School, Gilmanton Iron Works, NH: The Gilmanton School will be improving the Thomas E. Brunelle Outdoor Education Center by rebuilding the trailhead sign, adding small signs to mark key natural features, and improving trail markers along the trail. “Upon completion, we will be offering touts of the trail and its special features to teachers this fall as art of our back-to-school days.” said project leaders Katie Bass and Erin Hollingsworth. “Students will be getting outside to help complete this project as well reap its benefits after it is finished for years to come.”
- D.J. Bakie School, Kingston, NH: The Bakie School will be creating a pollinator garden within their Outdoor Classroom. The garden will provide students with opportunities to observe and explore science in their schoolyard. “With our outdoor classroom and existing garden, we are presented with an excellent space for authentic science learning.” said project leader Amanda Welvers. “These learning tasks will effectively integrate their science learning across subject areas.”
- East Andover Village PreSchool, East Andover, NH: “The goal of this project is to complete the outdoor play space.” said project leader Alicia Williams. “We can create new interest areas to further our learning, enhance our curriculum, and invite the community to share in the success of the new play space.” This grant will add a shade structure, plants and shrubs, and a learning easel to the existing Outdoor Play Space, as well as
New Hampshire Project Learning Tree supports students and educators in projects that make a difference in helping children connect with nature. The Outdoor Classroom Special Fund was started to honor the leadership of Esther Cowles, Executive Director of NHPLT from 1997-2011.