Outdoor Classroom
Rejuvenation Project

The Fairmount Outdoor Classroom was originally built by our sister Boy Scout Troop (Troop 30), but it is maintained by our Cub Scout Pack (Pack 30).  This is our continuing Service Project to Fairmount and the PTO (our Chartered Organization).

We are undertaking a "rejuvenation project" to return the Outdoor Classroom to a state that we (and the school) can be proud of.  The following outlines the basic plan:

• 2005-2006  "Clear It Out" 
  • A lot of work was done in 2005-2006 to clear out overgrown areas and clean up the Outdoor Classroom, and get it ready for a "re-building".
  • 2006-2007 will be our "fix it up" year.
      
• 2006-2008  "Fix It Up"
  • Clean up / Repair / Update stations (see Station Adoption List)
  • General approach -- make the outdoor classroom as maintenance free as possible
  • Additional cleaning up & clearing to be done:
    • Distribute the three piles of mulch [two complete]
    • Trim trees & clean up storm damage [complete]
    • Rack leaves & clean up trash as needed
    • Finish clearing out the underbrush and "open up" all of the areas
    • Cut down dead tree(s)
      • Use the tree trunk to make a new station
      • New Station Sign
  • Update flower beds & butterfly garden as needed
    • Label the plant areas: types of plants, what insects they attract, etc.
    • Replant bulb area as needed
  • Repair fence
    • Check fence for holes and repair as needed [complete]
    • Use rebar (or similar) to stop anyone from coming in under the fence [complete]
    • Fill in washed out areas as needed [complete]
  • Put back up station signs that can be reused [complete - none reused]
    • Using two posts vs. one post
    • Using bolts vs. screws or nails
  • Replace station signs as needed, using two posts and bolts
  • Repaint the main Outdoor Classroom sign.
  • Replace the "Outdoor Classroom, Maintained by Cub Scout Pack 30" sign
  • Add rock to the existing pathways, and add back the pathways around the left side of the classroom
    • Need a truck-load of rock [complete]
    • Need a grass barrier to prevent grass from growing on the pathways
  • Create user-friendly Outdoor Classroom "Teaching Kits" for the Teachers to use
  • Put up an outdoor sign (protected from the weather) that contains information about the outdoor classroom:
    • Map
    • General Information
    • Answer Keys
  • Update Stations:
    • Weather Station
      • Replace or add instruments (rain gauge, thermometer, barometer, etc.) [complete]
      • Repair & repaint the cabinet as needed [complete]
      • New Station Sign [complete]
      • Add binder inside the cabinet with information about each of the instruments. [complete]
    • Butterfly Garden
      • New Station Sign [complete]
      • Clean out & re-plant as needed
    • Wildflower Area
      • Till up the area [complete]
      • Plant wildflower seeds
      • New Station Sign
    • Geology Field
      • Answer Key
      • New Station Sign [complete]
    • Prairie
      • New Station Sign [complete]
    • Mini Exhibits (Geology, Sun Dial, Tree Ring)
      • New Station Signs (one for each) [Geology complete]
      • Answer Key for Geology Station
      • Explanation Sign for Sun Dial (describe how it works, and describe the time capsule that is buried under it)
      • Add new tree ring and rebuild the support
      •  Explanation Sign for the tree ring
    • Wildlife Habitats
      • Clean up / repair / replace wildlife habitats as needed, according to the original map
    • Animal Track Pad
      • New Station Sign
      • Answer Key
    • Marsh & Small Pond
      • Clean out the pond and the area [complete]
      • New Station Sign [complete]
      • Dress up the area with some new landscaping
    • Bridge
      • Repair as needed
      • Stain
    • Wildlife Food Plot
      • New Station Sign
      • Re-plant the food plot according to original map and information
    • Compost / Brush Pile
      • Have two designated compost / brush piles
      • Clean up around both of them & make the areas look neater
      • New Station Signs
    • Tree Nursery
      • New Station Signs
      • Plant (or transplant) trees as needed
    • Perennial Bed
      • New Station Sign
      • Sign describing the types of plants, what insects do they attract, etc.
      • Re-plant as needed
      • Repair / replace landscape timbers as needed
    • Garden Area
      • New Station Sign
      • Till up and prepare it for planting [complete]
      • Develop a written plan that dens can use to complete the World Conservation Award
    • Bird Houses
      • Repair & replace as needed (according to the original map)
    • Lecture Area
      • Replace bench seats as needed
      • New Station Sign
      • Stain lecture stand and benches
    • Plant Succession Area (add back this area)
      • Mark off the plots
      • Till up the first area
    • Ponds
      • Re-build the ponds
      • New Station Signs
    • Forrest Areas
      • Naturalize the areas under the trees where the sun can't shine (fix them so they don't have to mowed)
      • New Station Signs
    • Benches & Work Stations
      • Repair work stations as needed
      • Stain work stations
      • Add new benches
  • As needed, update the Outdoor Classroom "Map" (using auto-cad, Visio, ect.)
  • Publicize the rejuvenation project with the Teaches and PTO