Hansen Outdoor Classroom takes shape with help from Lowe’s, local generosity
By GuestBy Amy Walker and the Lowe’s Team
This is the story of a patch of grass and pine trees that is being transformed into a place of learning and wonder.
It’s a story of teamwork and volunteerism — a story that illustrates how a few people with a good idea and a whole lot of help can create something beautiful and lasting for the town of Canton.
It’s the story of the Outdoor Classroom at the Lt. Peter M. Hansen Elementary School, and it started when Hansen parent Sharon Stemm came across a brochure for the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grant. Lowe’s donates millions of dollars to schools across the country every year to help fund worthy projects that would otherwise go unfunded.
Stemm forwarded the information to Kathy Anderson and Amy Walker, both parents of then-fourth graders, who teamed up to write the grant request with input from various sources and Hansen staff. Earlier this year Lowe’s awarded the Hansen School $4,900 to complete the project.
Outdoor classrooms are becoming more popular in the United States and abroad. They give teachers and students a chance to get out of the confines of the classroom and add more hands-on learning experiences. Imagine children finding patterns in pine cones, watching worms build tunnels, singing along with birds and identifying cloud formations. Imagine math, science, art and music classes being held in a natural setting, opening young eyes to a different look at their surroundings. Studies have even shown that absenteeism goes down on the day students know they will have an outdoor classroom session.
The space to be transformed into the outdoor classroom was rough to say the least. It was an unused, uneven patch of land next to the existing Learning Center courtyard, created in 2008 by Hansen first grade teacher Claire Lund and Assistant Principal Mary Cawley to honor outgoing Principal William Griffin. This area had a view to a parking lot, loading dock and a dumpster, and the surrounding trees were in need of pruning.
An ‘absolute’ miracle
So the Lowe’s grant money was in the school’s hands and the space in front of the school was open and available. But now what? How does one design and create an outdoor learning space? The answer was simple: seek some help!
“Collaboration is this project’s middle name,” said Kathy Anderson, design coordinator and OC project manager.
Anderson and Walker maintained the grant’s vision while researching other outdoor classrooms in the area and through the web. They sought input from Hansen Principal Peter Boucher and Building Inspector Ed Walsh, among other town officials and area artists. Joyce Stenmon, Canton Public Schools’ K-12 visual arts coordinator, provided the project’s first working sketch that helped maximize the teachable space and offered suggestions for activities.
Click to enlarge
Lifelong resident and local artist Elaine Lowry created beautiful renderings that helped others understand what the outdoor classroom might look like upon completion, and Tim Stock, Hansen’s head custodian, provided valuable information about the existing space’s potential as well as its possible limitations. In September, Boucher and Anderson presented the project to the Zoning Board of Appeals, receiving unanimous support and praise for the project’s creativity.
Next, the call went out to local businesses asking for help. Several individuals stepped forward to help. Hansen parents Bill Cohen (president of WD Cohen Contracting Corp.) and Steve Anderson (director at the Rose Kennedy Greenway) offered initial guidance about the overall scope of the project. Once the project was a go, Cohen brought in Canton professional Rocco Cammarata to prune the trees.
Thanks to a connection made by Hansen parent Christa Kelleher, Brendan Healy, president of Absolute Landscaping, came forward and has taken a leadership role on the project. His efficient team is responsible for beautifully transforming the space — creating the pathway, placing the stones the children will sit on, and making sure the classroom is within ADA compliance. Their talents and generosity will continue through the project’s completion.
Luke Grady of Shawmut Design & Construction and a Hansen parent has also taken a key role in the construction, providing necessary concrete work and curb cut revision and will continue to work with the project organizers on the shed, blackboard, and more.
The outdoor classroom even has its own interior designer. Team member and Hansen parent Theola Gelerman was asked for her expertise, and she sized up the area for proper utilization of space, seat placement, symmetry and balance. And to make sure the area stays green and beautiful, Gabe Berardi, owner of Berardi Irrigation and a Hansen parent, has offered his services when the landscaping phase begins this spring.
“This project is an example of connecting one dot to the next,” said Anderson. “Response has been so inspiring. It is a joint effort between forward-thinking companies, the Hansen community, and Canton itself. We are very grateful.”
With an opening date of spring 2013, Hansen staff and specialists are excited to have the addition of the outdoor classroom. Teachers have offered suggestions such as adding a number of bird feeders, featuring perennial and indigenous plants, and enhancing the chalkboard with a magnetic feature. The space is also a hopeful spot for art and music classes for Hansen students and possibly beyond. In the future, the area could possibly be made available to the town for small community events such as scout meetings, book readings, lectures, and more.
So if you take a drive down Pecunit Street this spring, you just may see a cluster of children sitting outside with their teacher, soaking up the sun, breathing in the fresh air, and learning from nature — the best classroom of all!
For more information on the Hansen’s Outdoor Classroom project, contact Kathy Anderson at kgframes@comcast.net or 781-828-3456, or Amy Walker at saawalk@aol.com or 781-828-3991.
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