Ivy Academy's Skillern Elementary

My name is Holly Slater. I am the director of Ivy Academy Middle High and a parent of a first grader at Ivy’s Skillern Elementary. We are an environmental charter (independently managed public school) school located in Chattanooga, TN. We currently have grades K-1 (a new program adding a grade level each year) and 6-12, serving around 500 students total thus far. Our students are outside around on average 60-70 percent of their school day. We teach all subjects through hands-on environmental education and partner with TN State Parks as our school is adjacent to miles of hiking trails on state protected land.

We are seeking a way to overcome mobility barriers to outdoor education. Why? Because all students deserve access to outdoor learning with their classes. Our students, staff, student families, and all who visit would benefit greatly from an all terrain wheelchair. Plus, we would be open to doing a “loaner” program during the summers for state park visitors.

As an outdoor learning facility, we believe in the importance of learning from nature and being in nature to promote healing and provide joy. We want to be able to provide the opportunity for everybody to experience our beautiful campus that provides a one of a kind learning environment.

A few recent examples of barriers that we have faced:

-We have students who cannot access the trails and outdoor classrooms multiple times a year due to short term injuries or medical conditions. They have to sit in the front office with an alternative learning assignment while their class goes on the trail to learn. Though we have tried multiple ways to overcome this situation, we have yet to find a solution. While our school building and immediate campus are handicap accessible, it is way out of our price range and ability to make the trails accessible by a traditional wheelchair. We do not have the authority to alter state owned land for improvements to make those trails more accessible.

-We have an amazing 7th grade English teacher who has mobility issues and will not be able to access the outdoor classrooms or trail with students for over two months. This affects not only the teacher, but 70 students each day.

-We have family members and other visitors each year that cannot access the trail, go on

wildflower walks, view our community science programs, and all of the other things we love to bring awareness to and ways in which we educate the community.

My personal plea and sense of urgency:

My beautiful daughter, Chloe, attends Ivy’s Skillern Elementary and is in the first grade. In April, she will undergo a double knee surgery to correct a congenital birth defect. She will need to utilize a wheelchair for at least a month and maybe longer. This will result in her having to stay inside to learn alternatively while her class goes outside. Let me be clear that it is not the school’s fault, and I would never ask 16 other children to stay in because of my child. It just is the reality we are facing, and unfortunately a reality many others face every day. This situation is devastating as her parent, and I must try to do something. I am a firm believer that struggle is a part of every success story. Struggle encourages strength and courage to make changes.

The Overlander 4ZS, Off-Road Electric Mobility Vehicle Wheelchair is approximately $25,000. The base model at around $19,000 will need a few upgrades to make it safe for different sizes, abilities, and ages of people using it. I have been encouraged by a donor program to go ahead and try to seek funding in the amount of $15,000, because they are hoping they have funding for $10,000 of it, but no final word yet. https://www.terrainhopperusa.com/overlander-4zs/

We would love any help that you can provide in order to make our campus and unique learning opportunities accessible to all. We are hoping to do this in Chloe’s honor even if it doesn’t happen before her surgery, so that she can see that her struggle means something and can make a difference for others. The proceeds from this fundraiser will go straight to Ivy’s Skillern Elementary to put towards an all terrain wheelchair for use by any teacher, student, family, or community member who needs it to access our trails. If you would prefer, you can donate directly to the school -https://www.skillernelementary.com/get-involved or you can mail a check to Ivy’s Skillern Elementary at PO Box 39, Soddy Daisy, TN 37379.