Celebrating the Power of Place-Based Education in Oregon

Each year, Rural Schools Collaborative awards rural educators within its Regional Hub areas the opportunity to lead a Place-Based Education project by their design, through the Grants in Place Fellows program. These projects encourage students to connect with their local environment and community while solving real-world problems.

Thanks to the generous support of The Roundhouse Foundation, this year three additional rural Oregon teachers were awarded funding to carry out their own Place-Based Education projects. Eastern Oregon University anchors our Oregon Regional Hub, and we are thankful for their partnership in supporting rural education and innovation. These educators are leading their students on unique, hands-on journeys that engage the community, strengthen local heritage, and promote civic engagement and sustainability.

At the heart of every community is the drive to preserve and enrich local heritage while fostering the growth of future generations. Thanks to the Roundhouse Foundation’s support, these rural Oregon teacher-leaders are turning that vision into reality, leaving a lasting impact on their students and communities.

Monument to Our Monument: A Tribute to Community and Learning

In the rural town of Monument, Oregon, Michele Engle and her students embarked on a project to design and construct a lasting symbol of pride for their community: a professionally built welcome sign. Dubbed "Monument to Our Monument", this project became a hands-on, community-centered learning experience that went beyond classroom walls.

Students conducted historical research, attended city council meetings, and worked with local government agencies to secure necessary permits. They also collaborated with local professionals, including a contractor who volunteered to help build a stone wall around the sign. These partnerships not only helped the students develop key skills like public speaking, project management, and professional communication, but they also fostered stronger bonds between the school and the broader community.

The result? A beautiful, durable sign that now welcomes travelers to the riverside town of Monument. This project has already had a meaningful impact on both the 25 participating students and the entire town of just over 100 residents. It’s a testament to the power of student-led civic action and the lasting legacy of community partnerships.

Hear more from Michele’s students about the process.

Growing Future Generations: The Buff Bear Garden Project

In Madras, Oregon, Tracey Sklenar led her students at Buff Elementary School in creating a garden that is helping to sow the seeds of sustainability and community involvement. With the help of the Grants in Place project, Tracey’s students worked together with local organizations, including the Hooves and Boots 4H Club, the local prison, and families, to transform their school grounds into a thriving vegetable garden.

Over 290 students were involved in planting and tending to 12 garden beds, learning about sustainable farming practices, environmental stewardship, and the importance of healthy food. The project also brought together members of the local community, from high school students performing plays to families volunteering to take plants home.

Perhaps most inspiring is the ripple effect this project has had on students and their families. With each class taking turns planting seeds, nurturing the plants, and eventually harvesting their crops, children have been able to see the direct results of their efforts. Parents and guardians have even started their own gardens at home, furthering the impact of the project beyond school grounds.

Hear from one of Tracey's students, Logan, about her experience planting seeds.

Designing for Connection: Burnt River Student Landscaping Project
In Unity, Oregon, Julia Wright’s high school geometry students transformed a once-overlooked outdoor space into a welcoming hub for both their school and the wider community. Nestled between the greenhouse and weight room, two spaces frequently used by students, the redesigned area now features a student-designed bocce ball court, complete with irrigation, landscaping, and seating.

While the core team included seven high schoolers, the project engaged students from grades 4–12, as well as two local nursery owners who shared their entrepreneurial journeys in rural Oregon. With the help of school staff and community members contributing tools, labor, and materials, students brought their vision to life through applied math and hands-on collaboration.

The class presented their project to the school board and received enthusiastic feedback. A community celebration is planned for July, and with strong student ownership and community support, the space is set to remain a lasting feature on campus.

A Lasting Impact

These inspiring Place-Based Education projects would not have been possible without the generosity of the Roundhouse Foundation. By supporting projects that focus on local culture, sustainability, and community engagement, educators are providing rural students with transformative, real-world learning experiences.

The funding from this foundation enabled teachers like Michele and Tracey to take their ideas from vision to reality, enriching the lives of their students while strengthening the bonds between schools and their communities. The ripple effects of these projects will be felt for years to come, as students continue to learn, grow, and take ownership of their communities’ futures.

Special thank you to Erin Borla and the Roundhouse Foundation team, for making these projects possible. Your support has not only funded critical resources for these educators but has also fostered a sense of pride, ownership, and community involvement that will last for generations. Thank you to Dave Dallas, of Eastern Oregon University, our Oregon Regional Hub Lead. Thank you Michele, Tracey and Julia for leading these projects, and your dedication to Place-Based Education, your students and your community.