Pavilion, butterfly garden planned for outdoor classroom

School receives grant from AGFC

— Pea Ridge High School geometry teacher Holly Dayberry says give her a drill and she’ll do the building.

Middle School art teacher Anya Bruhin says landscaping is her thing.

For the second year in a row, the school district received a $5,000 grant from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and a matching amount from the school, to construct and improve the shared outdoor classroom located between the high school, middle school and primary school.

The funds will be split between the high school and middle school.

To qualify for the grant, the money must be used on studentled projects to better the outdoor area and also promote community involvement.

Dayberry is planning a pavilion on the north end of the classroom. She said she envisions an open area for all classes to use, to get kids outside and involved in nature. The structure will provide shade and shelter from the elements.

Bruhin has a space in the southeast corner marked off for a butterfly garden, which is in its beginning stages. She plans on constructing flower beds and a sculpture, possibly connecting it to the middle school with stepping stones.

With the money, she will bring in native plants with high wildlife value, she said, purchased from local artisans and nurseries. The garden will be home to not only butterflies, but plants that provide food for them, a place for egg laying and other animals to prey on what preys on the butterflies.

“We’re creating a tiny biosphere,” she said.

The district has until February 2012 to use the money.

Community volunteers are always needed to assist with building features, watering plants or other needs, especially during the summer when kids are out of school.

Dayberry and Bruhin headed this project alone, and realized, after trying to construct the entire outdoor classroom at once, it will take time to get to the state they envision it.

“The main thing we need is to get kids out here,” Bruhin said.

Last year’s money went toward trees, shrubs and structures throughout the classroom, including compost bins and benches built by students, a fire pit and an amphitheater in the works.

Pat Knighten of the AGFC presented the checks last week.

“This program is statewide, funded primarily by license plate sales,” Knighten said, “with special thanks to hunters and fisherman for picking up the rest of the tab.”

“We are finding nationwide that kids aren’t getting outside,” she said, adding she has seen kids who don’t know what to do with a shovel when it’s handed to them.

“There are schools statewide that would love to have this,” Knighten said, looking around.

News, Pages 1 on 05/11/2011