A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official opening and dedication of the new outdoor classroom designed and built by the MA Construction Club in partnership with local business Stephens Landscaping occurred during the Moultonborough School District School Board meeting Tuesday September 12, 2023. John Stephens, owner of Stephens Landscaping and 2007 MA alum, and Amy Morse, Construction Club faculty advisor, presented a slideshow showing the stages of the project and student involvement in the project from idea stage to final completion. Members of the Construction Club began in the fall of 2022 designing an outdoor classroom. Stephens Landscaping provided expertise, materials, machines, and labor throughout the project from design to completion. The student club members, which include: Broc Ames, Brennan Carlson, Haven Hoag, Landon Hoyt, Eric MacDonald, Austin Taylor, Daniel Tolman, Hayden Weeks and Logan Zeigler, provided 120+hours of work on the project as well. Patrick Hart, MSD board chair, said of the project, “It was wonderful how they turned a drainage ditch into a beautiful place for students to learn.” Superintendent Patrick Andrew noted ” the project is a physical reminder of the beautiful things that happen when this community pulls together.”
The outdoor classroom has levels for seating, drainage, and sail coverings to allow for usage throughout most of the school year. John Stephens expressed excitement about “continuing to work with the students on a new project in the coming school year.”
The funding for the project came from grants and from the generous donations of area businesses:
- Aubuchon Hardware – Donated painting supplies
- Bellettes Lumber – Donated the split rail fence material
- Ready Equipment – Donated Mini-Excavator with Hammer Rental for ledge removal
- Cohen Steel – Donate metal posts needed for the shade sail
- Coleman Concrete – Donated the concrete for the footings
- Millicans Nursery – Donated a tree
- MSD PTA – Contribution to sun shade sails
- Natural Stone Wall Solutions – Donated Trucking and Crane for the Wall Panels
- Bob Stephens – Donate labor and planning throughout design and installation
- Whittier Welding – Donate time welding the bases of sun shade posts
AND especially Stephens Landscaping – Donated all remaining materials, machines and supplemental labor
