Shore Celebrates Opening of Outdoor Classroom on Evening of Gratitude
On October 5, a harvest moon illuminated campus as parents, teachers, and friends gathered outside the Center for Creativity to celebrate the opening of Shore's newest learning space, an outdoor classroom and garden generously funded by Shore families and supported by gifts made during the 2017 Parents Association Spring Benefit. This annual "Evening of Gratitude" honors The Shore Fund leadership donors and advancement volunteers from the prior year. The intimate event on an unseasonably warm and pleasant evening capped several weeks' worth of informal tours, class discussions, and science explorations that began as soon as construction and landscaping on the outdoor learning space were complete and a monumental granite Harkness table surface, delivered from Maine on a massive crane, was installed on its base to serve as the centerpiece of the nature classroom.
Donors at the evening gathering were excited to take a seat on one of the rough-hewn oak stumps arrayed around the inviting discussion table, and during remarks to the guests, Head of School Clair Ward admitted, "In some ways, we have found a way to bring Shore to the outside—notice our beautiful outdoor Harkness table." But, she explained, "What makes this space wonderful is its potential to blur the lines between indoors and outdoors for our community."
Ward continued by referring to the work of Richard Louv, the author of The Nature Principle, recommended summer reading for Shore families. Louv coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" in his earlier book, Last Child in the Woods, and is an influential proponent of learning outdoors. Ward said, "What strikes me as both an educator and a parent is that Louv’s concept of outdoors does not just mean thrusting yourself deep into the woods or out onto a coastal island, as our upper school students still do each fall. While those experiences are amazing, Louv believes that people should be able to see evidence of the natural world daily—to taste it, to touch it, and smell it. So here we all stand in a natural space nestled between Shore's integrated science/art classrooms and our glorious Center for Creativity. How proud we all are to offer an education that is driven by Shore's longstanding mission and its commitment to providing the best research-based education for all of its students."
Ward then observed, "I am impressed that our community, as much as it has achieved, is still hungry for more; there is an appetite to explore all of the additional ways that we can nurture children and partner successfully with families. Donors like you make this possible, just as you have made this incredible outdoor environment a reality. You all understand the value of a Shore education. Your commitment has a deep and immediate impact on our children. Wherever I am on campus—dancing in Kindergarten, chatting with fifth graders at lunch, speaking with ninth graders about the secondary school admissions process—wherever I am, I am reminded of your generosity."
Director of Advancement Jody Johnson echoed, "Personal generosity as donors and volunteers is key to Shore's continued success and ability to lead the way in elementary education. Last year Shore received gifts from a record-breaking 91% of current parents, in addition to gifts from alumni, grandparents, alumni parents, current and former employees, and special friends. In total, this represented a total of $950,670 in gifts to The Shore Fund."
The outdoor classroom space is the first to be completed of three natural learning environments planned for Shore's campus. Construction on a smaller hands-on discovery area for Lower School children is in progress, and remediation has begun on a wetland adjacent to the school's lower sports fields, which will serve as a wild and unlandscaped area for study and exploration.
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Donors at the evening gathering were excited to take a seat on one of the rough-hewn oak stumps arrayed around the inviting discussion table, and during remarks to the guests, Head of School Clair Ward admitted, "In some ways, we have found a way to bring Shore to the outside—notice our beautiful outdoor Harkness table." But, she explained, "What makes this space wonderful is its potential to blur the lines between indoors and outdoors for our community."
Ward continued by referring to the work of Richard Louv, the author of The Nature Principle, recommended summer reading for Shore families. Louv coined the term "nature-deficit disorder" in his earlier book, Last Child in the Woods, and is an influential proponent of learning outdoors. Ward said, "What strikes me as both an educator and a parent is that Louv’s concept of outdoors does not just mean thrusting yourself deep into the woods or out onto a coastal island, as our upper school students still do each fall. While those experiences are amazing, Louv believes that people should be able to see evidence of the natural world daily—to taste it, to touch it, and smell it. So here we all stand in a natural space nestled between Shore's integrated science/art classrooms and our glorious Center for Creativity. How proud we all are to offer an education that is driven by Shore's longstanding mission and its commitment to providing the best research-based education for all of its students."
Ward then observed, "I am impressed that our community, as much as it has achieved, is still hungry for more; there is an appetite to explore all of the additional ways that we can nurture children and partner successfully with families. Donors like you make this possible, just as you have made this incredible outdoor environment a reality. You all understand the value of a Shore education. Your commitment has a deep and immediate impact on our children. Wherever I am on campus—dancing in Kindergarten, chatting with fifth graders at lunch, speaking with ninth graders about the secondary school admissions process—wherever I am, I am reminded of your generosity."
Director of Advancement Jody Johnson echoed, "Personal generosity as donors and volunteers is key to Shore's continued success and ability to lead the way in elementary education. Last year Shore received gifts from a record-breaking 91% of current parents, in addition to gifts from alumni, grandparents, alumni parents, current and former employees, and special friends. In total, this represented a total of $950,670 in gifts to The Shore Fund."
The outdoor classroom space is the first to be completed of three natural learning environments planned for Shore's campus. Construction on a smaller hands-on discovery area for Lower School children is in progress, and remediation has begun on a wetland adjacent to the school's lower sports fields, which will serve as a wild and unlandscaped area for study and exploration.
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Parents took a seat at the granite Harkness table.
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Guests gathered for the evening event.
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Eighth grader Ivan Betancourt provided entertainment on the piano.
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SAIL teacher Betsey Holland and her students planted flowers.
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The completed outdoor classroom space
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Shore Country Day School’s mission is to provide an education that inspires a love of learning and encourages children to embrace academic challenge. We seek to build character, cultivate creativity, and value diversity as we help our children become healthy, compassionate citizens of the world.
The School admits qualified students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, and extends to them all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sex, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its admissions, scholarships, and loans, and its educational, athletic, and other programs.