CASE STUDIES
Lake Perrault Outdoor Classroom and Stewardship Project
JEFFERS HIGH SCHOOL
PAINESDALE, MICHIGAN
PROJECT SUMMARY
Jeffers High School is a rural school serving seventh- through twelfth-grade students in the town of Painesdale, which is located in Michigan’s western Upper Peninsula. One of the town’s greatest assets is Lake Perrault and its surrounding area, which, according to teachers, has experienced considerable degradation over the years due to inconsiderate use. As a result, Jeffers students decided to help restore the area around the lake and protect the fragile Robert T. Brown Nature Sanctuary, a 19-acre fen owned by the Michigan Nature Association.
This project was supported by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, one of nine regional hubs that comprise the Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative.
“The kids understand now there is a reason to protect this place. The stewardship part of it is their obligation to keep this place the way it is now for future generations.”
Mike Benda
Adams Township Public Schools Superintendent