Here’s a recap of a pretty remarkable collaboration in Marin County. About 30 juniors from the Marin School of Environmental Leadership (MSEL) at Terra Linda High School rolled up their sleeves to design and build a low-tech, eco-friendly playscape for Spring Hill School in Petaluma.
The outdoor space? It’s got a cozy reading nook, running-water mud kitchens, a pine cone weighing station, and two wood ramps that turn into mini-waterfalls. Installation’s set for next month, with a public unveiling on March 9.
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This project mixes hands-on learning in construction, design, engineering, and teamwork. It’s also a meaningful gift to a neighboring Sonoma County community, showing off the leadership vibe taught in Marin.
Marin Students Create Outdoor Playscape for Petaluma School
In a cross-county partnership that really puts youth leadership on display, Terra Linda High School students from MSEL built a fully functional playscape for Spring Hill School—a toddler-to-eighth-grade independent school in Petaluma. Environmental literacy and service sit at the core of MSEL’s four-year program, which started back in 2010.
The planning and building all happened in classrooms around San Rafael, Larkspur, and Mill Valley. Materials and volunteers came from all over Marin County and neighboring towns.
Spring Hill School’s director, Eric Saibel, jumped at the opportunity after MSEL teacher Allison Oropallo—whose kids go to Spring Hill—reached out. Saibel believes spaces that invite creativity and collaboration can really enrich early learning, and that’s what drove the partnership.
Marin volunteers and donations of lumber, Plexiglas, and other supplies from local shops and neighbors in San Rafael and Novato made the project possible. It’s a good reminder of how Marin’s network of small businesses backs public education.
Play Space Details
Here’s what Terra Linda juniors dreamed up for Spring Hill School:
- A 10-by-7-foot outdoor reading nook for quiet study and imaginative play
- Two mud “kitchens” with running water for hands-on exploration
- A scales station for weighing pine cones and other natural objects
- Two-tiered wood ramps that create mini-waterfalls for kinetic learning
Educational Impact Across Marin: Hands-On Learning
The project gave MSEL students a rare shot to turn classroom theory into something real. That’s a big part of Marin County education, with towns like San Rafael, Novato, and Sausalito all in the mix.
Students picked up project management, woodworking, roofing, and safe construction practices. They also learned to navigate teamwork, timelines, and all the little problems that pop up—skills that matter for families all over Marin, from Tiburon to Corte Madera.
Teachers say there’s a sense of purpose that sticks with students through graduation. Giving back becomes a real chapter in their lives before they head off to college, whether they stay in Marin or venture further out.
Meet the People Behind the Project
- Allison Oropallo, Terra Linda High School teacher and MSEL advisor. She championed the idea and guided students through design, painting, and roofing.
- Eric Saibel, Spring Hill School director, who welcomed the collaboration and really values beautiful, creative spaces for learning.
- Parent volunteers and donors from all over Marin—including lumber and Plexiglas suppliers—kept the project rolling from Mill Valley to San Rafael.
A Model of Community Collaboration in Marin County
Founded in 2010, MSEL admits students by application and asks for a four-year commitment focused on environmental leadership. The playscape project really brings that mission to life, turning students’ ideas into a lasting community asset for Spring Hill School in Petaluma.
Organizers see the playscape as a dynamic outdoor learning space that’ll serve Spring Hill students for years, from toddlers up through eighth grade. They hope it’ll inspire other Marin County schools—from Novato to Sausalito—to try out similar student-driven projects down the line.
The unveiling on March 9 gives Marin County residents a chance to see high school ingenuity in action. Maybe it’ll strengthen bonds between Terra Linda, San Rafael, and rural communities across the North Bay—or maybe it’s just a cool afternoon out. Either way, it’s worth a look.
Here is the source article for this story: Marin students craft eco-friendly preschool playscape project
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