NES GROWS,  Growing Real Opportunities for Wonder in the Schoolyard,  is a committee of the Triton Education Foundation dedicated to the stewardship of the outdoor grounds at NES.

NES GROWS…

• began in 2012;
• is led by parent volunteers;
• has an advisory panel of school administrators, teachers and the Triton Regional School District facilities and grounds manager;
• encourages student participation;
• initiates and develops improvements to the outdoor grounds in order to create outdoor learning opportunities for teachers, students, and community across disciplines. Opportunities to engage children in their physical environment while fostering respect for natural and community resources are vital for a successful future;
• is committed to getting kids outdoors to learn and play through four areas of engagement:  outdoor classrooms, educational gardens, nature trail, and enhanced outdoor play.

Our accomplishments:

• In the Fall of 2012, a short nature trail and outdoor classroom area were built.
• In 2013, several vegetable boxes were installed, doubling the number of classrooms that had the ability to grow vegetables for educational and nutritional purposes.
• Also in 2013, a rain garden was built with funds from a “Slow the Flow” grant program from the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

These opportunities engage children in their physical environment while fostering respect for natural resources and their community.

 “60 Minutes of daily unstructured outdoor free play is essential to children’s physical and mental health.”   -American Academy of Pediatrics