Trail Allows Students to Reconnect With Nature

Principal Megan Bennett is trying to get her students more in tune with nature, and that is why she has reopened a trail in the back of the building.

Bennett, who was born and raised in Rocky Hill, used to love the nature trail at  and wanted to bring that experience to West Hill students.

"We had a fantastic trail at Stevens," she said.

However, the nature trail had not been used for close to a decade and over that time had "fallen into disarray," Bennett said. That is until she enlisted the help of Deputy Fire Chief and Highway Department employee Kevin Morton who did the hedging, filling and most of the work to help bring the trail back to life.

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The trail has already been used for curriculum purposes. Several branches were laid over another tree in a formation that is similar to a Native American tepee. Bennett prevented workers from knocking down the structure and now, third grade students will be making it into a tepee for their Native American studies.

"I said don't you dare touch it. It's perfect," she said about the man-made tepee.

Teachers are using an application on the I-Pad to identify leaves on the trees. Once they discover a maple tree the students will tap it for syrup.

"These are some of the things that are naturally part of our community," said Bennett, who has built nature trails at previous schools. She added she loves her “new extension” to the school building.

Parents discovered stumps in the woods, which were made into customized seats for the students. In art class, the students made their own seat covers for the stumps. Now, classroom discussion can be held outside and the kids can sit comfortably.

"I wanted an outdoor classroom. We are going to have some place for the kids to sit, but I want it to still look like it is part of nature," Bennett said. A stage is also being installed on the trail near the stumps.

"It is a way of creating a classroom outdoors," she said. "You don't bring anything artificial into nature.”

All of the trails come back to the same point and there are exits throughout, so people can back to the school quickly. There are "certain vantage points, so teachers can see their students at all times," Bennett said.

Bennett said children are "becoming so out of touch" with nature. When she was younger, children played outside and the outdoors gave her a "free and liberating" feeling.

"If we get them in touch with nature, it gives them a reason and a purpose," she said. Bennett added that she hoped students and teachers use the trail often, even on weekends, so it is not forgotten.

She said the students have responded to the nature trails and are generally excited to learn in the outdoor classroom.

"Nature's classroom is like having nature in your backyard," the students told Bennett.

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