Ashland City Schools outdoor learning lab potential continues to be explored

A generous donation of property used as a land lab and a home away from home by the Ashland City School District was a special gift to the school district.

Putting it to its best use is a district goal.

The Wertman/Ferguson family's historic property, which includes a house, was donated to the Ashland City Schools by Mary Lou Wertman in 2016.

Over the years the acreage has been commonly known as the Ferguson/Wertman Farm, said Linda McKibben, deputy superintendent.

The oasis of land in the middle of housing developments on Mifflin Avenue near Oakbrook Drive was in the Ferguson and Wertman family since 1893.

Desire to put property to optimum use

Wertman, who pursued a career in nursing, has been active in the community over the years, serving in many capacities, such as the Christian Business and Professional Women’s Council. At Grace Church, she has been part of the Missions Commission, the Membership Commission and Women of Grace.

McKibben said Wertman was interested in contributing the land as a public service and was eager to know how the school district could put it to optimum use.

"She wanted to give it to a group who would use it and enjoy it," McKibben said.

Among the activities held there have been summer school, writing workshops and special events.

Referring to summer school, McKibben said, "You want school to be fun, especially if it's after the school year." The Wertman property offered the needed diversion.

On one of February's recent spring-like days, students in Christine Grubbs' intervention classes took full advantage of the ranch house to make and eat their lunch and sit comfortably in the living room/classroom to learn about other life skills related to a home.

Grubbs' ninth-12th-grade classes have used the house for learning activities about six times since the Christmas season.

Making pizza, doing laundry, learning independence

Ali Solet, an occupational therapist, said the students have made pizza, done loads of laundry, checked expiration dates on food and cleaned − tasks designed "to help them be as independent as possible."

The house remaining on the property is "really a home," McKibben said, especially conducive to teaching life skills, from making beds to cooking a meal.

"Daily life skills − things we take for granted," Solet said, noting academics come into play as well, for example, working with fractions in following a recipe.

"Making learning relevant," McKibben said.

During the most severe phase of COVID-19, the property's potential for further use and development was put on hold, but is once again being considered with renewed interest.

Unique features of the property include a creek, a spring and a springhouse, where the landowners used to put milk to keep it cool.

"The proximity to the school is ideal," McKibben said, pointing out Ashland High School and Taft Intermediate School students are among the district population that have done programming there, including summer camps.

Mentorship programs have met there, as have parent groups.

Upgrades to bathroom, deck, driveway

The district has already added an accessible bathroom and made other improvements at the home. A small deck is located at the back of the house.

The vinyl and hardwood flooring are easy to keep clean, McKibben said. Bedrooms can function as classrooms accommodating up to 50 students at a time.

The driveway was reworked as a loop to make an easy entrance and exit, Solet said, noting Wertman was pleased with the improvement.

"It looks so seamless − such a great addition," Solet said.

Early on, enthusiastic about the possibilities the property could offer to students, Tammy Stevens, former assistant superintendent of student services, asked Solet and physical therapist Kelly Raines to come out and take a look at it.

Among them, they decided to "shoot for the stars," Solet said.

"The land lab is "an extension of the classroom," Solet said, generating different responses from children.

"You change the environment. It's like a different child comes out," she said.

A woods right in the middle of town

In warm weather, students are able to enjoy the outdoors, which encompass woods right "in the middle of town," Solet said.

Several raised beds already are available to add gardening to the agenda, she pointed out, and a small playground is on site. Wildlife observed on the property have included a roaming family of deer, dragonflies and frogs in the creek.

"It doesn't get any better than lying under a tree reading a book," McKibben pointed out.

Additional landscaping is possible in the future.

The outdoor learning center is "a new project. We're learning as we go," Solet said.

"It's such a pretty little piece of property," McKibben said, calling it a "mini field trip."

The plan is to use it on a regular basis "in the most meaningful way," she said.

"The excitement is back," McKibben said. "This is something special."

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Potential of Ashland schools outdoor learning lab growing