Sun Club Grant Project
In 2022, The Learning Center K-8 School was awarded a $108,600 sustainability grant through Green Mountain Energy’s Sun Club program. This grant funded the design and construction of a timber-framed outdoor classroom on our school grounds, part of a student educational program with site specific preparation that began that October. Work on this project continued through next year, with the raising and dedication of the classroom taking place in Spring 2023.
The Learning Center School community played an important role in constructing the building. Each student carved and initialed a wooden peg used to hold the structure together, and school families gathered together to help raise the building by hand.
The one-of-kind classroom was designed and built by David Yasenchack, a timber-framing craftsman who used sustainably harvested timber from the school site and surrounding area. This project embodies the school’s dedication to sustainability and is designed to fit harmoniously into the wooded ravine adjacent to the school building.
To learn more about Green Mountain Energy's Sun Club program visit https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/sun-club/
School-wide Waste Reduction and Recycling
We go beyond household recycling and have partners to extend our recycling efforts. Working with Terracycle, and local businesses such as The Green Shoppe, we now recycle plastic bags, yogurt containers, and household batteries.
Promoting Reusable Goods
The school has made a concerted effort to educate our students about the use of reusable goods such as sandwich wraps, water bottles, and coffee cups.
Composting
No food waste goes into the trash at our school where compostable material is collected every day during snack and lunch. Once decomposed, we use it to enrich our vegetable gardens.
Rain Water Collection
With our 200-gallon rainwater catchment system, students water our garden beds so that we can conserve water while we enjoy our beautiful flowers.
Healthy Cleaning Products
We research and try to use only cleaning products that are safe for people and the planet.
Solar Energy and Energy Efficiency
The school has a small 300-watt stand-alone solar electric system used to charge iPads and computers. Through these systems, the school educates the students about the benefits of renewable energy.
Field Trips and Guest Speakers
We have visited a variety of nature centers and farms in the area, each providing information that supports our desire to live lightly on our earth.
Curriculum
We’ve covered topics ranging from biomes and global climate change to wildlife habitats and conservation of our natural resources with each classroom, as we learn to be good stewards of the earth.