Larger View End of Summer, End of Cleanup

Last December, Sherry White, middle school science teacher, wrote a grant to clean-up and restore a local walking trail located on the property belonging to Wallace Champeny. In the spring, work began and during the summer months students and other volunteers cleared and widened the trail and laid landscape timbers to define the boundaries of the trail. Prior to dismissal of school in May 2008, students in Agriculture Education classes cut rebar and drilled holes in the timbers so that the timbers would remain in place. However, mother nature had a different plan and rains were plentful during the summer months creating a waterway where generally there isn't one. Many of the timbers floated up and ended up in trees and the mill race. When school commenced in August, students, teachers, and volunteers worked to restore the trail to its pre-flood condition. Now, with winter setting in, students in Agriculture Education classes will once again be working on projects for the trail.

Sherry White writes:

Here is an update on the old mill walking trail - We have put the timbers back in place that moved during the flood and are in the process of welding metal on top of the stakes to keep them from floating up in the event of another flood. We invite you to come walk the trail when the weather is nice and is somewhat dry.

We are working on plans for benches, birdhouses, bird feeders and educational signs. A company has been contacted that will make outdoor engraved signs for use on the trail. The signs will acknowledge the donations of anyone who provides for the costs of any of the items our students will be making. The signs that we’re looking at right now are 3x2, 3x5, and 4x6.  Bigger signs will be considered if needed. These signs can say "donated by" or "in memory of."  We’d just like to have a way to show how our community has helped us in the work of the Old Mill projects.  At this time we’re still working on what our costs will be to build these items. We’re hoping to be able to build the bird feeders for a donation of about $30-40, bird houses around $50, educational signs for around $20, and benches somewhere around $100.

If anyone has any other ideas about things to make or do with our trail, please feel free to call, we’d love to hear your ideas.  If you are interested in donating money for an item or leaving a legacy for someone, please contact Sherry White (455-2410) at sherry.white@usd358.com and we’ll put you on our list and keep you posted on exact figures as we get them collected. 

Why a walking trail?

The walking trail will be used as an outdoor science lab for students to observe the habitat in their local community. It also provides a location for art classes to draw, students to exercise, and is a community service project.

In addition, it is a lovely place (when the weather is warmer and drier) to walk and enjoy the outdoors.

Larger View Donations Gratefully Accepted