Hickory Environmental Education Center wins $175,000 Naylor Family grant for tree‑canopy classroom
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Summary
Board members heard plans for a tree‑canopy classroom at Hickory, funded primarily by a $175,000 Naylor Family Grant; construction is scheduled to begin Oct. 13 and the structure will be ADA-accessible but not open to the general public.
Garrett County Board of Education members heard a presentation Sept. 9 on a new tree‑canopy classroom planned at the Hickory Environmental Education Center, a hands-on outdoor learning site for Garrett County Public Schools.
Jason Schenck (presenting as "Mister Schenck" in the transcript) described the concept, timeline and funding sources. He said the district was awarded a $175,000 Naylor Family Grant administered through the Community Trust Foundation and that Hickory Environmental Education Activity Account funds will cover remaining costs. Schenck said construction is scheduled to begin Oct. 13.
Schenck told the board the structure will lift students into the tree canopy with platforms and two walkways, is designed to be ADA-accessible, and can hold one class inside with a five‑foot exterior deck. He said platform heights range roughly 20 to 25 feet above ground, with the front deck about 7 feet above ground and the back deck about 18 feet, and that the unit is built with vinyl, metal and composite materials intended to minimize upkeep. He also said forestry experts reviewed trees at the site and identified specimens suitable to support the structure.
Schenck credited Tree Top Builders (a company he identified in the presentation) for a construction method that allows tree growth without damage; the transcript indicates the vendor is based in Philadelphia. He said the project emerged from a student comment in 2024 about wanting to “get up into a tree,” and that the district received grant support after a visit from Lon Naylor of the Naylor family.
Board members asked about access and safety. Schenck said the walkway will be locked and the canopy classroom will not be open to the general public; access will be scheduled for school and approved partner groups. He said the structure will initially be a three‑season facility without electricity or heat, and that the district will limit platform occupancy per safety plans. He estimated construction, weather permitting, could be completed in about three weeks after start, and noted the design allows future extensions if additional funding is raised.
The board accepted the update; no purchase contract or formal construction approval was recorded on Sept. 9. Board members and Hickory staff said they will notify members when an invitation to visit is available.
