Look to the Skies! The Constellation Trellis is on the Horizon!

Over the past month, the Eagle Scout project to fabricate and install the Constellation Trellis at the Southern Cross area of the courtyard has progressed.

The footings are installed and the base frame has been painted in brillinat colors and erected. Final details for the cables, pulleys and constellation stations are being worked through this exciting outdoor classroom component....

Stay Tuned and keep your eyes to the skies...

Mineral Mines, Shade Sails, Rain Gardens, and More...

Have you Seen the Courtyard Lately...??

It been a while since our last post, but that does not mean we have not been doing anything. And if you have not been to the PRS Outdoor Classroom lately, you are in for a surprise.

The Courtyard is a constantly evolving outdoor classroom with new educational elements being added or planned. Not only does the landscape evolve with plants growing throughout the seasons, we are adding more educational items for the students to learn from and enjoy.

Recent additions include the completion of the fully functional Rain Garden with Observation Deck surrounded with lush landscape planting that provide wildlife habitat, a Mineral Mine complete with a variety of select individually labeled minerals and stones, Northern Lights Reflection Station where strategically placed mirrors can be used to educate students on light and relfection, Two large triangular Shade Sails have been installed above the amphitheater, and a myriad of new landscape plants throughout the courtyard provide seasonal interest and a great environment for wildlife and insects...

Other projects currently under way and near completion are the Giant Chess and Checker Cabinet, the Garden Shed, an outdoor Audio System for the Amphitheater, and the Constellation Trellis.

The greatest reward from all this hard work has been to see the students (and faculty) using the courtyard in ways that we planned and some that we have not. It seems that the courtyard changes every couple of months and we encourage you to get involved (even on the smallest level). We welcome you to be a part of the Outdoor Classroom projects and programs.

As you know, it was a very tough summer. The heat and drought wreaked havoc on the new landscape plantings. If it was not for the dedicated group of volunteers who made sure the plants were properly watered and the courtyard weeded, the landscape would not look as impressive as it does. Thank you to all of you who helped out over summer break!!

Of course, a special THANK YOU to everyone and anyone who has helped out with the courtyard from the beginning. It has truly come a long way.

Here are some newer pictures from the past few weeks. Enjoy the view!

PRS Courtyard Webcam

You can see a live view of the Courtyard Classroom by visiting the Point Road School Website or selecting this link... http://71.127.249.32:8080/view/index.shtml

Phase II Work Weekend - Ready To Go!!!

We're Baaacck!!!

First and foremost. Thank you to everyone who has participated in the construction of the outdoor classroom project with your time, donations, physical labor, and of course a committed support. Without ALL of you, the courtyard would not be possible.

The pieces are coming together.

Our Second full fledged work weekend is about to get underway...TOMORROW!

Please join us in continuing our efforts to complete a real outdoor classroom.

Work begins at 2 PM on April 16th.

The working hours for this weekend are:

Friday, April 16 2 PM to 7 PM
Saturday, April 17 7:30 to 2 PM
Sunday, April 18 7:30 AM to 2 PM

What will we be doing? Lots. A little spring clean up, mulching, construction of planters, planting rain garden plants, completion of observation deck and more.

We'll post some images soon.

Rain Garden Forecast ...and Postcast 10-23-2009

Friday was a successful afternoon of digging, digging, wall building, and yes more digging.

The Rain Garden is close to being complete. The retaining wall that will allow the rain to inundate the garden is complete. The extra soil has been moved to various places around the courtyard to create berms for future plantings.

The next steps for the rain garden will be the gravel drainage bed and composted soil that will provide a premium medium for the special plantings to follow.

Friday was also a great day for clean up. The volunteers managed to complete a solid fall clean up of leaves and branches. It was also a significant day because we managed to remove the extra pavers that will no longer be of use for the courtyard.

Looking forward to the work event on Saturday, November 14th from 7:00AM - 3PM. Hope you can make it.

New School Year, New Outdoor Classroom Goals & Schedule October 2009

It's hard to believe that only 5 short months ago, the PRS Courtyard was a barren red gravel echo chamber with a innate potential to be a place for learning and enjoyment.

Thanks to the incredible hard work of all the volunteers and generosity of the vendors and community, the Courtyard has become a true Outdoor Classroom.

During the Summer, several families volunteered their time to do periodic maintenance which has protected the work completed and set the groundwork for the upcoming phases of smaller strategic projects.

To date, we have completed all the hardscape elements of the Master Plan including the Giant Chess Board, the Amphitheater Seat Walls, Main Terrace and all the connecting Courtyard Walks. We have also completed the Pond, installed the Phase One lighting and landscaping and even installed the Fountain donated by the 4th Grade Class of 2007.

With the new school year underway and the Courtyard infrastructure in place, the Courtyard Committee is continuing to work hard to put in place the specific educational components where students and teachers can actively utilize the courtyard as a true outdoor classroom.

This year, the Committee's goals are to complete several key components. Please take a look at the renderings of our future projects.

• The Rain Garden
  
• Two 30' triangular Shade Sails over the Amphitheater

• Additional landscape plants associated with the various ecosystems and learning stations


• Construct a decorative cabinet for the Giant Chess Pieces and Courtyard Equipment with quotes from Significant People in History




• Prepare the area for the Constellation Trellis





• Build See Through Planter Boxes




• Install Benches

As with the original construction and transformation of the courtyard, the continuing commitment and development of the courtyard project requires the help and energy of volunteers. Unlike the marathon-like efforts of the Phase 1 construction, the Committee has decided to undertake strategic projects that can be accomplished in smaller blocks of time and over the course of a few weeks.

On Friday, October 2, 2009 we will be working from 2:00 PM until dusk to complete some items listed above.

We will continue our work on the Point Road School Outdoor Classrooms on the following Fridays: October 9th, 16th, and 23rd.

Sunday PM: Can you say Wheel Barrow?

This is an outdoor classroom, so by the time 2PM rolled around we ask ourselves, What have we learned?

Answer: The Wheel barrow is one of the most impressive simple machines that many volunteers will admire and curse in the same sentence.

Not only did we clear out the playground area of construction materials, we managed to have almost all the pavers installed. The Pond is nearly complete and has been filled with water and includes a waterfall and spitting tortoises!

In addition to planting the Eastern Redbud given to Point Road School for Arbor Day, we even replanted the shrubs that were relocated from the Main Terrace area.

We'll post some more in the next few days, but for now, all we can say right now is INCREDIBLE!

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped make this classroom project become a reality.

See for yourself what a Team with a mission can do in 21 Hours...

Pictures speak louder than words.