Outdoor Advisory Committee

The MTRS Outdoor Advisory Committee (OAC) is intended to be a mixture of community members, students, and MTRS staff. Anyone with an interest in helping us develop outdoor spaces for the school and community is welcome to join at any time! We meet monthly to plan and implement projects designed to help support student learning inside and outside the classroom. We also plan, implement, and advise on the projects to help the development of outdoor spaces at MTRS. The OAC communicates progress on the different projects and initiatives once a month in Principal Buckland’s weekly newsletters.

Current OAC Projects 2023

Vermont Community Foundation Grant ($10,000): We recently applied for this grant to request funding for building an outdoor kiosk with a working board and picnic tables. Middle school teachers have been requesting an outdoor location for when they integrate the campus into their curriculum. Other staff members, sports teams, as well as the community, could also use this. We will find out in the spring if we get the funding.
Deerfield River Watershed Association is giving us a small grant of $250 to buy four closed trash cans for the front and side entrances. Our elementary students have noticed that animals come frequently after school (and during school) to take out items of interest. This was spreading more trash around the campus. We will close these new cans, and they will help support our campus care initiatives.
Survey for New MTOC (Mohawk Trail Outdoor Classroom): We asked staff/students what they would like to see happen to the new courtyard classroom next. People indicated their top three picks are: new doors (glass, allows us to see the space and access it easier), mural/artwork, and a sensory garden. Rachel Silverman will do the mural idea this spring with help from a local artist. They will work together to create something on the wall with students. Doors, we learned, are very expensive, so that idea is on hold for now. The sensory garden is what we are working on next (see below).
Sensory Garden: Our students and staff really liked this idea. Things you can touch, taste, smell, as well as enjoy looking at. In March 2023, we will be asking our community members for donations to help with this project. We will work with students to create raised beds that invite students. In addition, a parent is donating a solar fountain. The sound of water relaxes many people.
Accessible Path: We feel it is important that everyone can use the new outdoor classroom space. Currently, there is a step down and no path. We would like to install a crushed stone path (most likely) that could accommodate a wheelchair. We have recently reached out to STCC to see if any students show interest in helping us plan this idea. Anyone familiar with such work would be welcome to help out.