Haile Middle School's
Learning Takes Flight
Art & Nature Project
The Learning Takes Flight project was the brainchild of Brenda Smoak, a local artist, who was one of only 5 artist chosen nationwide by the VSA to be one of this year's teaching fellows. Knowing that Backyard Getaway had created similar projects at other local schools, including Dan Nolan School & Manatee Glens ARC adolescent live in facility, she contacted us to collaborate with her. Backyard Getaway later was awarded the Manatee Chamber's 2011 Business/Education Partnership award for the Haile project! Brenda Smoak featured the project while teaching at the Smithsonian as part of her VSA fellowship, summer of 2011.
In the first phase of the project the students created a 40' mural with the guidance of local artists Brenda Smoak & Barbara Gerdeman. During the second phase they created a pondless water feature & wildlife habitat with the help of Dave & Lisa Burns, owners of Backyard Getaway. Lastly, they were back in the classroom with Brenda Smoak creating individual clay leaves with inspirational sayings that will be attached to the wall mural. We couldn't have asked for a better group of kids to work with. We were impressed with how well they worked together. They were not only eager to learn & ready to pitch in with every step of the project, they were some of the most polite young people we have ever met. The students did a beautiful job on the project & we hope that they are as proud of what they accomplished as we are!  Please take a moment to scroll the the photo albums!
ChristianBarbara, Jarrod & KyleBarbara, Jarrod & KyleTaking ShapeLeftLearning Takes FlightRight side
Phase I Painting Mural & Clay Leaves
pondless water feature waterfall
hands on pond class
Atlantic Water Gardens one of our generous sponsorsDave getting things startedBrian, Jacob, Gaitlin, Dave & StevenGaitlin, Jacob & Rachel Brian & ErickGaitlin, Dave & Steven Rachel, Jacob & Gaitlin checking the strength of the Ecoblox.Rachel & Dave determing the width of the waterfall/streamRachel, Dave & Antwan marking out the streamRachel, Gaitlin, Dave, Jacob & Steven. We ran into obstacles & had to move the basin over a foot.Ryan helping with the diggingKyle using everyone's favorite tool "the stomper"Dave, with Kyle, couldn't resist using the stomper tooJr using the stomperErick, Jr & Brian...everyone gets to dig!Dave & Brian making sure the waterfall weir is level perfectFranshina enjoys her work!Erick, Jr, Brian & Dave, more diggingJosh, Cody, Ryan & Dave laying out the underlaymentErick, Asia, Cheniah, Josh, Cody & RyanRyan, Cody, Josh & Tyler getting the liner readyRyan, Cody, Cheniah, Josh, Tyler, Kyle & Asia move the liner with Dave's guidanceCody, Cheniah, Tyler, Asia & KyleDave Tyler Cheniah Eric Josh Asia & Kyle carefully place the liner over the basin & stream areaChenia, Josh & Kyle carefully lay the liner in placeJosh, Dave & Kyle maneuver around the treeTyler, Cheniah, Cody, Erick & Dave gently move the liner into the basinCody briinging the mulchBrian, Lisa, Ryan & Elliot checking out pond photosCody, Couper, Jarrod, Gabe & Elliot starting the wildlife garden Elliot, Jeffrey & Gabe deciding on which plants to plantJeffrey, Cody & Jarrod Lisa, Gabe, Brian Ryan, Cody, Elliot & CouperRyan being interviewed by Pam Eubanks of the E.C. Observer
Phase II Water Feature & Wildlife Habitat Day 1
The rock has arrived. Thank you Ruck Bros for your wonderful donation!Jacob, Steven,Christian & Kyle checking out the rockSteven & Antwan finish shaping up the bermGaitlin & Jacob start trenching for the hose while Elliot, Jr & Jeffrey work on the flower gardenDave, Antwan, Asia & Tabitha adding dirt to the sides of the basinDave, Christian, Antwan, Asia & Tabitha get ready to start running the hoseAsia & Tabitha getting the piping around the treeTabitha & Elliot Take a break while Forrest & Dave get the waterfall weir ready for the hose. Brenda Jeffrey Shambria Gaitlin RachelChristian found a perfect place to take a breakCouper, Brian, Elliot, Forrest & Jacob listen as Dave explains how to use waterfall foamCouper, Brian, Elliot, Forrest & Dave look on as Jacob gets the foam ready Christian watches as Jacob applies a bead of foamGaitlin, Couper & Dave add the first rock to the waterfallCouper Forrest Dave Elliot Brian & Gaitlin adding dirt to hide the hose behind the waterfallSteven, Tyler, Jarrod & Christian add river rock to fill in the small holesTyler, Ryan, Forrest & Dave watch as Christian applies foamTTyler Ryan Christian Forrest Jeffrey listen as Dave explains the next stepSteven, Tyler, Jarrod & Christian...Teamwork!Steven, Christian & Dave cutting the hoseJacob's turn to help Dave with the hose cuttingDave, Brian & Jacob attaching the hose to the waterfall weirDave_Couper_Christian_Forrest_Elliot_op_736x551Jacob screwing down the liner attachmentDave taking a breakRyan, Couper & Dave lay the next boulderZach, Ciarra & Amanda help out with the plantingDave on the thinking rockBrenda takes a picture of Elliot & Jr hard at workForrest Jacob Tyler Gaitlin Ryan help unload the mulchElliot working on the plantsJacob & Gabe creating the "H" JeffreyDave, Gabe, Christian & CouperJarrod & Mrs. ClouseJeffrey & Elliot working hard on the gardenJeffrey, Jr & ElliotLisa & AmandaRyan moving the benchesRyan cleaning off the stepping stonesSteven Zach Forrest Jacob Gaitlin Ryan CiarraTyler testing out the benchWater at lastPondless water featureAmanda admiring the muralBrenda, Lisa & Holly A few of the talented students who created the mural & waterfall
Phase II Water Feature & Wildlife Habitat Day 2
Gold Sponsors:  Silver Sponsors:Special Thanks to Mrs. Clouse & her students:
Altantic Water Gardens     Authority, Inc.Lorena Barrientes, Brian Billiter, Couper Braun, Josh Buckley
Ruck Brothers/OldCoastal  Carla's Clay    Ryan Chastain, Jarrod Coffin, Gabe Crowe, Elliot Dunlap, Zach Dunn
Florida Friendly Plants K&S Carryout Amanda Emenecker, Steven Foley, Kyle Gonzalez, Lexie Grant
Haile Parent Teacher Organization  Marina's PizzaCody Harrelson, Erick Heidt, Asia Jimenez, Forrest Jones
MCF - Manatee Community Foundation   NDC Carpentry Inc    Tabitha Jongsma, Christian Liggett, Kaitlyn Lowenhaupt, Briana Lutzi
YEA! Arts  The Merlin FoundationCheniah Maddox, Ashley Marer, Ciarra McNutt, Jacob Miller
Manatee County School Board    Jean Franklin Franshina Mitchell, Jeffery Phelps, Antwan Price, Shambria Randall
  Tyler Schemel, Gatlin Smith, Barrientes Thomas (Jr.), Luis Velasquez
  Rachel Wackenhut, Justice Watson
Bronze Sponsors:Copper Sponsors:
AnonymousChris Babroski     Kemlyn & Edward Bappe  China Sky
I Choose Books, Lutz, FLCity View Tavern       Eric Cross Glass Reflections, Sarasota
Charisma Cafe, Bradenton      Pamela Dance & Martin Shearer     Ralph HeitkampCharles Henry
Charisma Café, Bradenton      CJ Emrich, Teacher, Haile      Home Resource, Sarasota      Lola Blue, Northport
Linda de Mello  Tom & Debbie Holloway    Kenny Lubel      Manasota BUDS
Johnette IshamKristie Kindstrom, Artist       Jean Mitchell    Native Spirit, Bethesda MD
Terry Melo       George Mendez Sylvia Nissley   Ortygia Restaurant
Lin Oakerson and Cheryl Kinderknecht    Laura-Leigh Palmer   Heart's Desire, Bradenton
Marilyn Reyes, Teacher, Haile               Rosemary Court Yoga       Yon Wacker
Marilyn Stamberg              Clay & Rosalie Wakefield       The Wentz Team
     Kevin Webb             Yoga Arts, Bradenton
Contributing Artist: Barbara Gerdeman, Artist
Ringling College of Art + Design Volunteers:
Karen ArangoMaria de la RivaDannielle Slaughter
atlantic watergardens
ruck brothers brick
florida friendly plants
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Phase III Attaching Clay Leaves
Laying out the leaves to add to the wallschool was closed on friday so it was up to Brenda, Dave, me & our two volunteers to attach the 90+ leavesstarting to come to life!Dave always the ham
Ribbon Cutting & Awards!
Brenda Smoak, Holly Clouse & Principal Kerley cutting the ribbon
Learning Takes Flight project sponsors
Artist &  Gold Sponsors:
Brenda Smoak, Artist     Lisa & Dave Burns, Backyard Getaway
2807 S. Duette Rd. Myakka City, FL 34251
941-752-POND (7663)
email me
backyard getaway pond logo
Backyard Getaway was awarded 
the Manatee Chamber of Commerce 2011 Business/Education Partnership Award
for our contribution in the
Haile Learning Takes Flight Project!
pond school project award
manatee chamber member
backyard getaway pond logo
Art/Nature School Habitat Projects
Backyard Getaway has partnered with local VSA artist, Brenda Smoak, to offer the art/nature projects to all schools, day care centers, community centers, at-risk facilities and senior citizen centers in Manatee & Sarasota Counties. We offer this unique project as a learning tool integrating curriculm into the project as it relates to math and science. Students will learn hands, on creating a unique mural, clay artwork and a wildlife habitat with a water feature at their school. The project will become a permanent fixture at the school for future generations to learn from.

We work with young people and adults with and without disabilities to create a mural, clay, pond and waterfall on site. There is even built in fundraising sources to help fund your art & nature project. To learn more please contact us or visit Brenda's page at www.artandalchemy2.com

Please take a moment to view the pictures below of our latest project!