The words of the English poet William Wordsworth created the vision for the newly completed Wetlands Boardwalk at the Mettawee Community School (MCS). “Let nature be your teacher,” Wordsworth advised, and years of contribution, collaboration, planning and perseverance by multiple interested parties brought the project to fruition. And future generations have been gifted an opportunity.
All the above sentiments were on full display at the Mettawee Community School (MCS) on Friday, November 7th for an assembled audience of dignitaries, including the full student body. The occasion was the official ribbon cutting celebrating the construction of the Wetland Boardwalk that connects the school to some 145 acres of hardwood forests, streams, wetlands, farmlands, hiking trails, and a hill perfect for sledding.
“We have a beautiful state,” said Mettawee School Board member Anthony Garcia. “Why not take advantage of our proximity to nature and create opportunities for outdoor learning?”
The story behind the new walkway is years in the making. Nearly 20 years ago the Gilbert family approached the Vermont Land Trust with the idea of contributing land to the state with the intent of preserving the environment. The property was set aside and discussions on next steps continued.
A breakthrough took place in 2020 when Merck Forest & Farmland was brought in to manage the land. Merck immediately reached out to MCS to research measures for incorporating the property into the school’s education programming.
“The land offers a natural space for our students to design, create and explore,” said MCS Principal Brooke DeBonis. “From day one, Merck has been a wonderful partner in helping our staff develop ideas for outdoor learning in science, math, art, and more.”
But one hurdle remained. A patch of extensive wetlands obstructed the direct route from the school to the outdoor learning space. To reach their destination, students took a soggy circular detour that added 20 minutes to their roundtrip, limiting the ability of the school to take full advantage of the land.
The solution was to raise public and private money to build an environmentally correct elevated boardwalk through the wetlands that provided direct access to the adjoining land. A slippery 20 minute schlepp would be reduced to a short brisk walk of less than five minutes.
Funding for the project would come from a variety of sources. Merck’s Education Specialist Christine Hubbard wrote grants for funding from the Vermont Outdoor Recreation Economic Collaborative (VOREC). The Vermont Community Foundation reached out to anonymous donors interested in the environment and outdoor learning. From outside the state, Federal programs were identified by Merck that added money to complete the project.
All told the investment in boardwalk was close to $450,000. The work started in June of this year and was completed by the end of October. The planked walkway, made of black locust hardwood, extends some 1,155 linear feet, with two observation posts, and is universally accessible.
“What I like most is that the builders worked hard to reduce the impact on the environment,” said one Mettawee second grader. “They took care not to hurt the wetlands.”
At the conclusion of the ribbon cutting ceremony, Merck Executive Director Rob Terry issued a challenge to the assembled dignitaries and in particular, the Mettawee students.
“Merck turns 75 years old this year and I can’t think of a better birthday present,” said Terry who then turned to his younger audience. “Protect this land and protect the planet for the next 75 years. Thank you in advance for all the awesome stuff you will do.”
The Wetland Boardwalk is open to the public from dawn to dusk seven days a week except from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm on school days.
(Photo above: Rob Terry, Executive Director of Merck Forest and Farmland, and Mettawee Principal Brooke DeBonis cut the ribbon to open the Wetlands Boardwalk.)
Mettawee 2nd grade teacher Ross Harmon and his class explore the Wetlands Boardwalk.
The Wetlands Boardwalk, made of black locust hardwood, extends some 1,155 linear feet, with two observation posts, and is universally accessible.
The Wetlands Boardwalk shortens the journey to outdoor learning
Mettawee students participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the Wetlands Boardwalk.
This observation platform extends from the boardwalk out over a pond in the wetlands adjacent to the Mettawee Community School. (Photo from Merck Forest and Farmland)
Dignitaries at the Wetlands Boardwalk ribbon-cutting ceremony (from left to right): Adam Gilbert (Tahawus Trails), Elisabeth Marx (Vermont Community Foundation), Rob Terry (Merck Forest and Farmland Center), Chris Hubbard (Merck Forest and Farmland Center), Ryan Mclaren (Senior Outreach Advisor to Senator Welch), Marlena Baker (Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, and Recreation), Brooke DeBonis (Mettawee Community School), and Donald Campbell (Vermont Land Trust).