Sisters School District, Sisters Trails Alliance & Kiwanis Club Partner to Construct a Nature Trail

Sisters - June 2025

This year, Sisters Elementary and Middle School students designed, measured and flagged a nature trail in the wooded area in front of their schools, with guidance from teachers and Sisters Trails Alliance Crew Leads.  For their annual community service project, sixty 7th graders spent a day laying out, raking and clearing debris from the middle school section of trail. Elementary students learned about trail building during STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) to begin construction on their section of the new path.  

This collaborative community project will connect students of all abilities to authentic learning opportunities in our local ecosystem.  The five foot wide accessible nature trail will allow students to meander through the wooded area in front of the schools and study birds, bats, insects, native plants, landscape architecture, forest restoration, navigation, mapping and other environmental science themes.

The first phase of construction - the base rock foundation - was completed in June, with eight truck loads of rock delivered and installed by STA crews and community volunteers. More than 600 students worked on the new nature trail. STA and community members logged over 300 volunteer hours to lead the student efforts and construct the first phase of the new trail.  Phase 1 cost $9,000+ in materials with $25,000+ provided as an in-kind match. Read more about this exciting community project in this Nugget article.

Phase 2 - An Accessible Nature Trail, Interpretive Signs & Art!

The next phase will include installation of trail mix topper and compaction to make the trail accessible for wheelchairs and other mobility devices, similar to the Tollgate to High School and Whychus Creek overlook trails.

Students will design and create interpretive signage and art installations to be placed along the nature trail.

Phase 3 - High School Trail, Benches & Outdoor Learning Structures

During the 2025-26 winter, the project team will be working with the High School educators to plan for a trail around the High School.

Wooden benches and outdoor learning structures, including a tipi and a gazebo, will be added to the nature trail as funding becomes available.

Sisters Schools Nature Trail will provide access for all students to experience the great outdoors!