Presumpscot Elementary School students are gearing up for Better World Day, which will take place on May 3 from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. This annual event is celebrated by schools in the EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) network  across the globe. The students will work with community partners to create a learning walk and restore the Presumpscot trail, making a positive impact on their community. 

This year, students ranging from pre-K to fifth grade will work with the Portland Trails organization to restore the old Presumpscot Trail. They will also create educational signs about the local flora and fauna. Through a collaboration with students from Portland Arts and Technology High School (PATHS), little libraries were built and will be installed at both ends of the trail. Each grade will focus on a different topic, such as animals and tracks, tree identification, birds, plants and pollinators, animals, trees, and decomposing. The project is being led by Natasha Vandegrift-Martinez, Presumpscot environmental literacy teacher.  

Home Depot has donated materials to build the little libraries, while experts at Winslow Farm will help choose native plants to place alongside the trail. The trail will be open to the community and used as part of the outdoor classroom in the future. All are invited to the grand opening of the trail at 3 p.m.