A walk of wonder
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 6 years, 2 months AGO
DEVIN WEEKS/Press Ryder Fine, 17, on Wednesday discusses how to use the conflict resolution wheel that he helped install at Atlas Elementary in August as part of his Eagle Scout project. The wheel encourages students to resolve conflicts and build social skills as they work out their issues.
A twisty path, a crab walk, a winding path and spin zones are all part of the new sensory pathway at Atlas Elementary. (Courtesy photo)
Atlas Elementary School second-grader Caden Black on Wednesday hops through a new sensory pathway installed by Life Scout Ryder Fine, right, as part of the project fulfillment for Ryder to obtain his Eagle Scout status. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
Second-grader Greyson Bullen walks a winding portion of a sensory path at Atlas Elementary as Aubrey Hanson waits her turn Wednesday afternoon. Life Scout Ryder Fine, right, installed the sensory path as part of his Eagle Scout project. The pathway is designed for students with autism and sensory needs but can be enjoyed by all. (DEVIN WEEKS/Press)
By DEVIN WEEKS
Staff Writer
HAYDEN — Hopscotch just got a whole lot more exciting at Atlas Elementary School.
The playground now has a new colorful sensory path that begins with hopscotch but evolves into a pathway that invites students to walk a loop de loop, try their hands and feet at crab walking, elephant walking and bear walking, and helps them refocus their energies while hopping on one foot.
"I really like the bear walk, it’s really fun,” Atlas second-grader Aubrey Hanson said.
“My favorite part is where you hop on one foot three times and then the other foot three times,” said her classmate, Caden Black.
Second-grader Brielle Carter appreciates the variety of activities.
“I really like it because it has different stuff than just a hopscotch," she said.
This sensory path was created to help students who are on the autism spectrum or have other sensory or emotional regulation challenges. The bright colors engage different parts of the brain, and incorporates touch, motion and spatial orientation into a fun, obstacle course-like activity.
And it's all thanks to Coeur d'Alene High School senior Ryder Fine, a Life Scout in Troop 211 who designed and helped install the pathway at the end of summer to fulfill the project requirement of earning his Eagle Scout status.
Wednesday was the first day Ryder, 17, got to see kids using the path.
"Happiness abounds!" he exclaimed, throwing his arms into the air. "I was leaping over the moon. I was so happy that they enjoy it."
This project is especially near Ryder's heart because he attended Atlas in fourth and fifth grades.
"It makes me happy knowing that I can give back to a school that I first attended since moving out here," he said. "This was also the school that I got into scouting in, so it’s a really great spot to do my Eagle Scout project."
He also understands how this sort of activity can help children with sensory issues because he can relate to their needs.
"I’m also on the autism spectrum," he shared. "The high-end function of it."
His mom, Amy, and dad, Justin, visited the school with him to see how the students are loving the pathway. They beamed as they discussed their son's compassion and hard work. Amy said Ryder worked really well with Atlas Principal Heather Somers to create something from which her students would benefit.
"It was a great exercise overall in the amount of flexibility and leadership that you have to do," she said.
“Oh, we’re very proud of him, very proud of what he’s done,” Justin said.
Ryder was grateful for the work of the 17 Scouts and grown-ups who helped make it possible, and to the Atlas Parent-Teacher Association for funding the $1,300 project. With planning and installation, it took about 200 hours. he thanked two very special people for their contributions — his Scoutmaster Eric Paddack and teacher Rebekah Comstock.
"I’d like to give a big shout-out to Mrs. Comstock. If it wasn’t for her, a lot of the touch-up work wouldn’t be done,” he said. "She was my fifth-grade teacher when I went to Atlas, so it really meant a lot to me that she was able to come."
Ryder and his team also painted a conflict resolution wheel on the playground to encourage kids to work things out, take a timeout and really consider their actions when they're having problems with other kids.
"Ryder has been such an amazing leader through the whole process," Somers said. "He really took this on himself. He did the measuring, the layouts. I know they spent countless hours on the stencils."
Somers said Atlas will be happy to share the stencils so other schools in the area can use them to incorporate a sensory path into their playgrounds too.