The outdoor teaching space constructed by the East Jefferson Rotary Club at Chimacum Junior/Senior High School was dedicated Jan. 23.
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The outdoor teaching space constructed by the East Jefferson Rotary Club at Chimacum Junior/Senior High School was dedicated Jan. 23.
The idea for the 20- by 30-foot covered area first came from an August 2018 meeting, said Paul Wynkoop, EJRC president.
The club was looking for some way to contribute to the schools and the idea for an outdoor teaching space to supplement the garden program was born.
The space will be used by students of all disciplines for outdoor learning, specifically the horticulture class during the spring months while they work next door in the school’s greenhouse, raising crops like blueberries, strawberries, kale, spinach and sweet peas.
The students are able to get hands-on experience in the horticulture program, and teacher Greg Reed said growing their own plants often encourages them to eat healthier foods.
Construction began in fall 2018 and was officially finished last week with the installation of gutters and downspouts.
Chimacum carpentry students will now begin constructing work benches and picnic tables for the area, Reed said.
Much of the design, building materials and labor for the project were donated by local businesses and volunteers including Hadlock Building Supply, Olympic Equipment Rental, Shold Excavating and Double D Electric.
The original blueprints for the project were also donated by a Port Townsend High School Class of 2018 senior, Abel Tolpin.
The county estimated the cost of the project would be upwards of $15,000 Wynkoop said, but they were able to accomplish it for $8,600.
After realizing they were going to have to spend about $900 of their budget just on the building permit, Wynkoop said he decided to sell plaques on the eight supporting posts to raise more money.
He sold eight plagues for $200 each to businesses and community members like Finnriver Farms, the Chimacum Cafe and the Mathes family, raising an additional $1,600.
“We always knew it was something we needed but we never imagined it was going to come around like this,” teacher Gary Coyan said.
