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The town hopes to have the design of a new outdoor center in the spring.

Adams Designing Glen Outdoor Center

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The town is continuing design work of the Greylock Glen Resort’s outdoor center and hopes to have schematics in hand by late winter or early spring.
 
Director of Community Development Donna Cesan said a project steering committee currently is working with Maclay Architects, who were hired earlier last year, on the proposed net-zero energy outdoor center.
 
"With schematic design and a solid construction cost estimate in place this spring, the town will focus on securing the funding needed to build the Outdoor Center facility," she said.
 
A $5 million line item was included in the state's 2014 Environmental Bond for the Glen Outdoor Center. Currently, the state has released $250,000 for preliminary design and another $500,000 has been approved for release to complete design of the building. 
 
Once the schematic design is complete and there is a solid cost estimate, Cesan said the town will be working with state representatives on releasing the funds necessary to complete construction of the building.
 
The town has been reimagining the Glen project for decades now but not until recent years have officials settled on the current plan that includes a lodge, conference center, amphitheater and a redeveloped trail network. The trail network was done through the state department of Conservation and Recreation.
 
Cesan said the town did put out the request for proposals for the campground last year and a request for quotation for the lodge and conference center this year and although there was interest in the two projects, there was also at the time concern over the difficulty to attract private financing.
 
"With this feedback and witnessing the popularity of the new trail loop DCR completed in June, we are focused on the public elements of the resort project," she said. "The outdoor center and further development of the trails system."
 
Cesan said the amount of funds released from a bond each year depends on tax revenue and other state receipts taken in and any project identified within the bond is also in competition with other line items in the bond. 
 
"So, in a real sense, the Outdoor Center project is in competition with other state agency projects identified in the bond," she said. "The town has been encouraged to work closely with DCR on this matter and they, along with our delegation, will be assisting the Town to obtain the needed funding."
 
Cesan said the outdoor center is intended to be a multi-use public building containing a welcome area, exhibit space, classrooms and a café.
 
"The center will serve as a visitors’ base camp for excursions within the Glen and to the Mount Greylock State Reservation," Cesan said. "The facility will have a general public focus but is expected to be the location of future environmental education programming provided by other organizations and institutions."
 
Cesan said the building will also have room for a private recreational outfitter. 

Tags: Greylock Glen,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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