As well as swapping their indoor classroom, the students will exchange their traditional school chairs for giant recycled timber logs donated by Peet Limited’s Lakelands Private Estate.
The seven specially milled tuart logs, 2.4 metres long and 40-50cm in diameter, were reclaimed not far from Black Swan Lake.
Deputy principal Brendan Waddy said the fire pit was the brainchild of the school’s Early Learning Centre, which wanted an area where students could gather and learn together in an outdoor setting to stimulate their thinking.
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READ NOW“The fire pit is a wonderful asset to the college. We can accommodate up to 32 students sitting on the logs in a circle around the fire,” he said.
“The aim is to broaden the types of education experience students get at our school.”
“It’s significant to us that local recycled timber is used as part of this project.”
The fire pit was built with a $4000 community grant and help from Alcoa employees.
Volunteer work was carried out by some of the school’s parents who are Alcoa employees.
“We love to help our community partners who do so much for our employees and their families,” Alcoa Huntly Mine manager Brett Hodges said.
Mr Waddy said the fire pit could be used all year round, but acknowledged the weather was not always warm enough for outdoor classes.
“We might see the creative juices stimulated in an outdoor creative writing class, for example,” he said.
Students will plant about 1500 seedlings on July 29 in a section of Black Swan Lake parkland.