EG's Happy Hearts Gets First 'Schoolyard Habitat' In State

The germ of the idea was planted in Juliana King's head during a conversation with someone from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service during a water quality meeting in 2011. 

"She told about a program they have called 'Schoolyard Habitat' to provide an outdoor learning space. It had never been done in Rhode Island before," said King. It’s a nationwide program … and it involves Fish & Wildlife providing expertise and money, with the matching equivalent of time and commitment from the partner to accomplish the agreed-upon project." 

The idea was to provide a natural space that could both provide a place for outdoor exploration or, with older students, be a project that involves them both in its creation and once it's finished – a bird-and-butterfly garden, for instance, or a low-impact way to handle run-off – through a vegetative basin instead of pavement and a culvert. 

King discussed the possibilities with then-Town Manager Bill Sequino, who suggested trying a small project to start with. Looking back, King was thankful for that advice. 

"Every single player who has been a part of this for the past two years, it's been their first time," she said. "If it were to be done again, it will be quicker." 

The town-owned property (leased by Happy Hearts Preschool) became the beneficiary – specifically, an unused, overgrown swath of land abutting houses behind the school on Meadowbrook Road.

The school's owners, Pam Noble and Ann Millard, were very enthusiastic. In order to be able to use the habitat for lessons, the growing team (including various staff members of Fish & Wildlife) opted for a bird-and-butterfly garden. 

Beating back the wildness of land was difficult. 

"An invasives contractor had to come in," said King. "The bittersweet was so mature it was very difficult to remove."

With money from Fish & Wildlife, Out In Front Horticulture was hired to clear the area in August 2012.

Meanwhile, King had started working with local Boy Scout troops on different Eagle Projects, and she realized the habitat would make a great Eagle project. Boy Scout David Navilliat of EG Troop 1 came on board.

"We had several meetings with myself, Pam or Ann, Fish & Wildlife, and Dave," said King. "What could we design, knowing the age of the kids?"

Plants with lots of berries were out – just in case the children would be curious to try them. And plants that the children could be allergic to were also ruled out. King wanted, too, to focus on plants native to Rhode Island.

Originally, the plan had been to plant last spring, but there was a lot of change in personnel at Fish & Wildlife, King said, slowing things down. 

But another spring and summer meant more unwanted growth. King herself ended up clearing it out during the summer – collecting 12 more bags of unwanted plants. 

"We knew we absolutely had to plant this fall," she said. 

Planting day – Saturday, Sept. 28 – finally came.  

That morning, Cindy Maynard from Fish & Wildlife drove from her home in Providence to Blue Moon Farm Perennials in Wakefield to get the plants, taking two trips. David Navilliat, his father, his sister and a few scouts arrived to help. An experienced gardener friend of King's also helped with the planting. 

The finished product (seen here in photos) was an enclosed garden area. While it is town-owned land, Happy Hearts will maintain it. 

"Our students have had the opportunity to walk the nature path," Millard and Noble said via email. "We look forward to the spring when the new growth will hopefully attract our winged friends."  

"It was a very big collaborative effort, where everyone was truly on board and positive about it even as plans evolved and changed," said King. "I was just really impressed with everybody. Everybody worked together so well."