Lake Braddock Student Creates Outdoor Elementary Classroom

SPRINGFIELD, VA — Normally students at Ravensworth Elementary would be learning indoors on plastic chairs in a classroom. But this September, students have a different kind of learning environment to use: painted tree stumps and chairs made of wood under a tent outdoors.

That outdoor classroom is thanks to Lake Braddock sophomore Logan Pembleton's Eagle Scout project. Pembleton, 15, helped design an outdoor classroom for Ravensworth Elementary, a feeder school for Lake Braddock Secondary School that he previously attended.

To earn an Eagle Scout rank, Scouts have to meet a number of requirements, including completing a service project. The idea for his project emerged from Ravensworth Principal Erika Aspuria's call for help to make an outdoor classroom under a tent. Pembleton and his mom saw the request in the school's community newsletter and thought it was a good idea to help kids learn during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Outdoor classrooms are very important this year because the kids have to wear masks, and it gets stuffy," Pembleton told the FCPS blog. "So when they go outside they can take them off."

Pembleton did research to design the wooden chairs, looked for deals on lumber, and created a mobile, waterproof white board design. Neighbors, friends, classmates and younger Boy Scouts helped out and offered donations for the project. He spread the word through the school's newsletter to recruit volunteers.

With the help of volunteers, it took several hours on two days to complete the project over the summer. That meant the outdoor classroom could come together in time for the first day of school.

The principal expects to use the outdoor classroom elements even beyond this year.

"This will always be his elementary school," Aspuria told the FCPS blog. "He was able to leave a lasting impact here. And it’s also great he was able to draw in other scouts who are currently students here. It really truly was a community event and will have a community impact."