Newtown High School senior Clint Stergue said he learned about "a project behind Hawley [Elementary] School," last school year, while thinking of a potential Eagle Scout Project.

Clint was interested, so he began the process of completing paperwork, organizing with town and school officials, and preparing for what ended up being two days of clearing and preparing trails and learning spaces in the woods behind the elementary school.

At the far end of the field behind Hawley, a gap in the brush is visible behind "The Hawk's Nest" score board. Clint said before his project, youth football teams would vanish beyond the score board to huddle in one clearing up the main trail. The path and original clearing, Clint believes, were started in the mid-90s, and have not been maintained since the late 90s.

Clint said he has been working on the project since the spring, preparing paperwork and gathering volunteers, and everything came together when people met him on Sunday, August 14, to start the process. The effort was completed the following Saturday.

"That was just cleaning out the entire trails," Clint said.

On Saturday, August 20, mulch was added, large tree branches were laid to line the new paths, 12 benches were placed, and two bridges were completed.

Now the main path leads to other paths and multiple areas that can be used for the elementary learners. The two bridges span small streams, and the benches clearly mark spaces where classes can sit together.

Clint said the benches were designed to be the correct height for "younger kids," noting, "The benches are about eight to ten inches off the ground."

With birds chirping around the space, Clint pointed to a muddy area.

"There is a drought now, so there is not a lot of water, but this is usually filled up a bit," he said.

The tree branches that were used to line the paths also mark places students should not venture, like into the murky mud.

Clint said he added the extra paths to the original layout of the space. He followed areas where footsteps had already begun to create a path to create the new walkways. The bridges replaced logs "that had just been thrown down there."

His scoutmaster, Jerry Capaldo of Troop 270, donated most of the wood and the bases for the benches, which were built as part of the project, according to Clint. The mulch was delivered by Newtown Parks & Recreation parks' maintainer Tom Pendergast.

"He really saved the project," Clint said, explaining that Mr Pendergast delivered the mulch right on time. "It was the day [the mulch needed to be added], and we didn't have enough mulch. He came with two truck loads... it wouldn't have gotten done without him."

A number of people arrived to help with the project on both days of the effort. Clint said members of his younger brother's football team helped, and a number of other scouts assisted in the effort.

Clint was grateful the school allowed him to do the project, and said he owed thanks to his mother, Tania, for all of her efforts.

Hawley Principal Christopher Moretti and first grade teacher Kathy Leja walked the area on Monday, August 22. Ms Leja said she has been using the space with her students for a range of projects, like scavenger hunts, learning about tree growth by monitoring one tree for a year, learning about the vernal pools, and making treats to leave for animals in the winter.

"This is so great," Ms Leja said, noticing the height of the benches and the clear pathways where students can walk.

"I'm so excited," she said, adding that she was already thinking of teaching ideas to put to use in the new learning space.

More teachers will be excited to use the space, Ms Leja said, "Now that it looks so beautiful."

Mr Moretti said the space would feel like a field trip for students.