Making 'magic'

The Class of 2011 of Leadership North Augusta, which graduated on June 1, wanted their legacy to be a "project with lasting impact on the community," said Walker Posey, a member of the class who helped put the project together.

The result has been termed "magic" by School Board member Ray Fleming. Speaking at last week's official groundbreaking for an outdoor classroom at North Augusta Elementary School, Fleming said, "This is the kind of magic that can take place when members of the community join with the schools - an exciting, relevant learning opportunity."

"There was a need for an outdoor classroom," said Posey, who explained the Leadership NA group coordinated getting the materials and the labor. Many of the members will help with the physical labor when all the materials are in place, said Posey.

During last Thursday's official groundbreaking, Posey said the school's PTO and the Leadership class began to work on the project, and "everything came together just right."

He described the outdoor classroom to be built - a 24' x 30' covered shelter which will include concrete foundations, concrete slab, colored split face concrete block columns, stained wood beams and trusses, stained tongue-in-groove wood ceiling, a metal roof and picnic tables. Some additional sidewalks will be constructed to connect the new shelter to existing sidewalks for accessibility. The facility will be aesthetically pleasing, said Posey.

Posey said the PTO had raised some money but had come upon road blocks.

"They needed help from some folks with construction expertise," he said, pointing out that the Class of 2011 with Leadership North Augusta happened to have a number of people familiar with the construction process.

The result is a plan for an outdoor classroom that will be wired for electricity and will have some of the preliminary work done so that if running water is needed later on, it can be added easily. There will be a spot for a garden, as well.

The class was able to capitalize on an existing grant, as well as the good will of the community.

"The PTO received a Home Depot grant, so we are maximizing their effort," he said. "We got lots of things donated, so it was a good effort between both parties."

Posey explained the outdoor classroom will be an open-air structure with tables set up for experimentation.

"The outdoor learning space is even accessible to special needs children," he said, detailing wheelchair accessible pathways. "We still need funding to put in a sidewalk from the school to the project - that's critical for special needs classes."

Aiken County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Beth Everitt called the plan "so well thought-out." She praised the initiative of the Leadership group.

Fleming agreed.

"You are showing not only leadership potential, but real leadership," he said.

School principal Laurie Reese said the new outdoor classroom will provide some much-needed shade on the playground, as well.

And the structure is going to be close to the school's existing nature trail. Fletcher Dickert, a member of Leadership North Augusta's 2011 class and an employee of Allen-Batchelor Builders, remembers the trail, which had been long forgotten. When he was an elementary school student in the early 1990s, he recalls walking the trail with his science teachers. Although the trail is currently somewhat in disrepair, there are plans to get the trail cleared out so the students can use the trail in addition to the outdoor classroom. And the Leadership group is looking at putting a gate in the fencing that divides the playground (and the new outdoor classroom) from the trail.

PTO President Michelle Chiswell said she hoped to see a fitness trail as part of the nature trail that is already there.

Posey said the Leadership North Augusta class felt that part of their charge is to give back to the community, to help where they can.

The Leadership North Augusta class was able to get many items and labor donated, which combined with the PTO's funds are making the project possible. The PTO raised about $5,000, then parent Susan Meehan wrote a successful grant for $2,500 from Home Depot.

But additional funding would be welcome. Tax deductible donations may be made to Leadership North Augusta Class of 2011 Project, c/o North Augusta 2000, 406 West Ave., North Augusta, SC 29841. Folks can also visit www.leadershipnorthaugusta.com. for more information

A bronze plaque naming all those who helped make the outdoor classroom possible will be erected on the facility, as well.

Those who have donated items thus far include Pete Alewine Concrete, Ferrell Electric, Cranston Engineering, Augusta Concrete Block, Kyle Watson Construction, Home Depot, Macuch Steel Products, Keystone Homes, Allen-Batchelor Construction, Holcim Cement Company, Mulherin Lumber, North Augusta Roofing & Construction, Sherwin Williams, Horizon Group, CSRA Testing, SRP Federal Credit Union, Maner Builders Supply, Rowland Funeral Home, Posey Funeral Home, SCE&G.