Students, educators and funders recently gathered with Thrive Outside to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Outdoor Learning Zone at Kickemuit Middle School.

After welcoming remarks from Bristol Warren Regional School District Superintendent Ana Riley and KMS Principal Dennis Morrell, Thrive Outside’s Executive Director/Landscape Architect Shannon Rozea and partner Brooke Merriam of Sunflower Designs gave a tour of the space.

As they wandered through the growth garden brought to life through a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, a meadow walk and performance areas the group received updates on Phase 2 plans and fundraising goals.

A total of $200,000 is needed for the next part of the project, which would add a low ropes course, a small pond, pavers, seat walls, walkways, native woodland garden and a creativity space. The figure includes the costs of construction and project design and management by Thrive Outside. The project is slated to be completed in 2026.

While the idea for a KMS Outdoor Learning Zone was conceived well before 2020, the project gained traction as teachers and administrators discovered the many benefits of outdoor learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This is a space that has the opportunity to transform the middle school experience at Kickemuit Middle School," said KMS social studies teacher Jeremiah Ryan. “We learned during COVID that kids loved to get outside, and we saw improvements in behavior as a result of the opportunity to take students outside for mask breaks”
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Ryan and School Psychologist Lora Helton have taken leadership roles in fundraising efforts. Supported by Thrive Outside, the KMS OLZ planning team has secured $192,114.21 of funding so far.

An additional $38,249.44 was donated to the project by Thrive Outside’s Fresh Air Funders Collaborative, a group made up of local community members, foundations and business partners who want to invest in outdoor education and environmental literacy.

“As a school garden shared by children from two towns we really feel like the more hands we get to help and the more sense of community we bring to its building will make the Outdoor Learning Zone an extra-special spot," said Ryan. “And we have had plenty of gardening help this summer from people from both towns, interns from the Warren HEZ, and community members including students and parents."

As 8th grade student Ivan Nanson exited the building and stepped into the Outdoor Learning Zone, he was excited about what he saw.

“It is a great idea and it will look awesome when it is finished and all the pieces come together,” said Nanson.