For the 250 students at Pemberton Secondary School, who participate in outdoor learning, sails to provide shade for those learning spaces have come as welcome relief in hot weather common in spring and early summer.
The school’s Parent Advisory Committee led the $12,694 project. It had the shade sails – to withstand wind and weather year-round – installed in 2021 over the outdoor classroom/gathering space which the School District had constructed in 2020. In the midst of COVID this project to support outdoor learning became a priority.
Rotary supported 30% of the project, including $2,500 from the Rotary Club of Pemberton and $1,250 from a Rotary District Grant. A gaming grant and community sponsorship provided another 30%.
The covered outdoor learning space benefits not only all the students and teachers for both classroom and extra curricular activities, it also makes it available to community groups, sports teams, and a wide variety of gatherings, presentations or activities.
The Rotary Club also provided volunteer support with project management and installation.