Editorial: Marin environmental students making an impact

Academic courses are the nuts and bolts of high school, but the learning experiences provided to Marin high school students offer them educational experiences that shape their interests and lives.

Marin School of Environmental Learning at Terra Linda High School has long been a solid example of a program where students can put the academics they learn in class to work in hands-on projects that make a contribution to the community.

MSEL’s latest accomplishment, the design and construction of a nature-centered, eco-friendly play area at Spring Hill School in Petaluma is a good example of the program’s work and the benefits its students get and give to others.

MSEL students designed, engineered and built the area from scratch. It includes a playhouse, outdoor reading nook, mud “kitchens” with running water, a scales station and wood ramps that create waterfalls. They designed, built, painted, put on roofs and installed plumbing. They learn to use what they’ve been taught in their classrooms, honed new skills and got real-life lessons in leadership and teamwork.

Admission to the program is competitive and requires students to apply and commit to the program for all four years.

It is a “school within a school,” similar to the Marin School of the Arts at Novato High School.

For many of the teens, it is their first experience in construction. Many Marin suppliers donated lumber and other building materials and a number of parent volunteers, many of them longtime donors of their time and talent, join teachers in guiding and overseeing the students’ projects.

Likely, they will remember their experience – their accomplishment – for years to come.

Most of the construction took place at Terra Linda and they will be moved to and installed at Spring Hill. So movability had to be built into the designs.

It is the program’s second project at Spring Hill, where MSEL teacher Allison Oropallo’s two children go to school.

For the program’s students it is also about giving back to others, to the community.

For example, among its latest projects has been working with FireSafe Marin on wildfire safety and emergency preparedness projects.

For many students, their MSEL projects have led to summer internships.

The children enjoying the play area the students created is one benefit. The lessons they learn in designing and building it are another.

Building the play area was just a physical example of the program’s students’ lessons and work.

The program was started in 2011 and has grown, promising a focus on “The Four Cs.” They are collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity.

It was started by a group of parents who wanted environmental literacy and leadership to be part of their students’ high school education and experience.

“A blend of academics, leadership, development, public speaking, creative arts, technology, engineering, project management, environmental justice, and community service are all integrated to create a highly relevant and engaging educational experience,” according to the program’s website.

The students’ drive and enthusiasm, the academic achievement required of them and the life skills and lessons they learn and master make programs like MSEL a big part of their high school years. They may not go on to be designers or carpenters, but they will remember what they created, how it came together, how they worked together and a sense of accomplishment and contributing.

Youngsters at Spring Hill will enjoy what MSEL students have designed and built for years to come. For MSEL students, they are learning a lot, putting classroom academic lessons to work and joining forces as teams to create and accomplish their shared goal.