Who are the Clayton Landscapers?
The Clayton Landscapers are a group of volunteers dedicated to improving and maintaining our school grounds. Filled with beautiful oaks, our Clayton property has great potential to support an expansive, natural play area for our kids as well as provide opportunities for gardening projects and science experiments. The Clayton landscape volunteers are committed to making the school property a beautiful and safe place for students, faculty and staff to play, learn and work. We have a great time working together, and encourage any and all volunteers to come out and join us.

What’s in store for 2008/09?
We are excited about this approaching year and hope to have a few sub-groups working on the many projects needed that will benefit kids and staff here at Clayton. If you have a special area of interest and would like to work on a specific project we could use your help!

Some areas we need help in include:

1. Gardening/Flower Bed work – Maintain the front beds, adding mulch or natives plants where needed. There is a need for additional planter boxes, and a desire for a butterfly garden.
   
   
2. Play area improvements – We will be working with 2nd grade teachers and other interested parties to create and refine areas around the new portables. Some suggestions include an outside reading area, and butterfly gardens.
   
   
3. General Landscape Work – Help with removing thorny vines, making play areas safe, removing cedar and/or stumps and doing general on-going work and trail maintenance. We are always in need a bob-cats and drivers. If you have one, I’d love to talk to you.
   
   
4. Community Property Development Assistance – We also welcome help from scout troops or Eagle Scouts, or any other group. Projects might include helping to maintain some of our garden areas or even designing nature trails through woods or creating an outdoor classrooms.

Property Development/Landscaping Work Days
We are going to try to have only 2 or 3 formal workdays this school year. Look for more updates from the school once these dates are confirmed. However, there may be a need for additional small projects. If you have an area or project that you’d like to personally do – just let me know!

Some useful items to bring: Wheelbarrow, pruners, shears, rock-pick, shovel, gloves and we might need a couple of weedeaters and chainsaws.

How can I help?
Please contact Catherine Thurk at cthurk@yahoo.com if you would like to help! Working on the grounds is a great way to meet other Clayton families and just a few hours of your time can go a long way towards helping our play areas and gardening areas.