Winooski Middle School, VT

 In the spring of 2018, 7th and 8th grade students from Winooski Middle School, VT participated in the Community Engagement Lab’s Vermont Creative Schools Initiative—undertaking an arts and science integrated residency exploring the essential question: “How does connecting to Vermont’s landscape help me to connect to myself?”

Students found connections with nature, and drew parallels between their own lives and the land around them. Following a challenging hike up Stowe Pinnacle, we created our own sketchbooks, created flags to represent our inner and outer personalities, and told our stories through the creation of Story sticks. The culminating event took place in Red Rocks, Burlington, where wrapped rocks painted with positive messages of hope, were hidden for unsuspecting travelers to find along their journey.