WALDO — Coastal Mountains Land Trust is collaborating with the Belfast Area Children’s Center (BACC) and Hills to Sea Coalition to create a stroller accessible outdoor classroom in honor of the Center’s 50th Anniversary.

The community is invited to a kick-off celebration on Thursday, August 1, at 5 p.m., to hear the teachers’ vision and plans, tour the site, and learn how to be a part of this community effort. The event will take place at Belfast Area Children’s Center (1025 Waterville Road, Waldo).

This collaboration is being led by Coastal Mountains Land Trust’s Learning Landscapes program, which seeks to connect children to the outdoors by securing land adjacent to schools, building outdoor classrooms, and supporting teachers with professional development and teaching resources as they move their curriculum outside. BACC’s outdoor classroom will include an accessible trail, a wildlife viewing observation deck, a dock installation for aquatic studies, story trail signage, pavilion upgrades for extended nature play sessions, a kiosk, and place-based education materials.

“This is a really special project which has been envisioned by the educators at BACC to expand nature-based experiences for the children they care for,” said Leah Trommer, Director of Learning Landscapes, in a news release. “BACC’s property connects to the well-known Hills to Sea Trail, offering opportunities for community members to experience the exquisite wetland habitat and connect with a larger trail network. BACC is a well-loved and vital resource that has served our community for decades. We’re excited to come together with the Hills to Sea Coalition to support their vision for expanding outdoor learning experiences.”

This work is being funded through the Land Trust’s Learning Landscapes and Waldo County Conservation Initiatives, and we invite the community to participate by making a gift on CMLT’s website (www.coastalmountains.org/give-and-join/give). Be sure to include BACC Project in the “Additonal Comments” section to designate your support for this project.

No RSVP is required for this event. Please wear comfortable shoes for a walk through the woods. Parking is available at the Belfast Area Children’s Center and at the Waldo County Technical Center across the street.