As part of its year-long celebration to honor the 40^th anniversary of the school, plans are underway to construct a new timber frame pavilion to honor current and former Riverside teachers. The structure, with an estimated size of 24 x 36 feet, will be used as a key instructional resource and gathering space for the Growing Riverside Outside (G.R.O.) program.
 
“Riverside’s teachers want to enhance curriculum through the lenses of outdoor and place-based education, developing students who are more active, engaged, patient, and supportive, and preparing them for the serious environmental and social challenges of their future. While creating connectivity and investigating the natural areas on our campus, we need spaces for students to question, discuss, record, and present what they are learning,” said Head of School, Roy Starling.

Established during the summer of 2020, the Growing Riverside Outside (G.R.O) program brings together faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, and community partners to focus on enhancing curriculum through the lenses of outdoor and place-based education. The goals for the G.R.O. program include the re-wilding of campus, a review of professional development and curriculum with faculty, and to establish teaching resources with the new pavilion serving as a key resource for the school and community.
 
A generous donation to the G.R.O. program has funded classes with Bobby Farlice-Rubio, Science Educator from the Fairbanks museum and the project has received a $4,994 grant from the Northeast Kingdom Fund from the Vermont Community Foundation.
 
“We have a team of teachers who are passionate about environmental and place-based education, thinking about and seeking the tools they need to do that in the most impactful ways they can,” said Nelia Rath, Assistant Head of School and Chair of the G.R.O. Committee. “In addition to tools and training, we need an outdoor classroom space, and we want that to be our Teachers’ Pavilion. This initiative not only supports the outdoor education initiative, but it helps to improve how we address all aspects of our mission.” 
 
Through the generous support of members of the Riverside community, 50% of the resources required for the project have been raised with the focus on fundraising now targeting the general public. The school has also introduced a new website to serve as a central communications resource and to highlight the plans for the 40^th anniversary and pavilion. The new website was funded by a $3,000 Restart Vermont Technical Assistance Program grant (ReVTA) through the Northeastern Vermont Development Association. The design for the website was provided by Northeast Kingdom Online located in Lyndonville, VT.
 
In-kind donations have been offered by area architects, contractors, and site-work specialists. Timbers are being donated and milled and solar panels have been donated for electricity. The school is working with the town of Lyndonville and area engineers for final plans and permits. 
 
“The energy and commitment for this project from our Riverside community is exciting and I am very pleased with the support we have obtained to date,” said Starling. “The pandemic has exposed the importance of teaching outdoors and I know all of us at Riverside feel fortunate to teach in this beautiful part of the country. We remain grateful for the confidence in our school that is being expressed by our Riverside family and the surrounding community.”