Our Campus
With 21 acres of beautiful fields, a cattail pond, and woodlands, there’s always something to discover on our campus.
Our greenhouse, solar array, maple shack, and tree houses (a/k/a Fortville) are just a few of the ways we spend time outside on campus. The Riley School has had raised garden beds for many years, which are frequently tended by our youngest childrens. In 2014, with support from a Davis Family Foundation grant, the school built a greenhouse. The greenhouse and gardens were planted in spring 2015 and tended by Riley children and volunteers over the summer, and now provide an abundance of fresh greens and veggies.
GREENHOUSE
THE RILEY menagerie
Riley values the learning and bonding opportunities offered by animals for our students. Our Farm & Garden program was launched so that the children could participate in a hands-on way and learn what it takes to care for animals, gardens, and our campus in environmentally-conscious ways. Our flock of chickens and herd of goats are beloved pets and provide joy and levity to our life at school.
Solar At Riley
Riley School has partnered with ReVision Energy to bring solar power to the campus. We have gone green by using renewable energy to reduce our oil consumption. Children and faculty take advantage of a variety of opportunities to integrate this campus improvement into its inquiry-based curriculum.
The 37.44-kilowatt ground-mounted solar array is made up of 144 solar panels and is a visible reminder to all who visit campus that Riley School is committed to being green.
ReVision Energy has been installing solar systems in New England for 10 years. They have put in place more than 4,500 systems—from solar hot water heaters for homeowners to large solar arrays for municipalities.
Track our energy production here to see how we’re doing!
Maple Shack
Lower Schooler students at Riley enjoy a month-long special interest project about the maple syrup production process—from tree to bottle. Dubbed Riley Gold, the sap produced by the trees in our woods are cooked over an open fire by students and faculty and then bottled for sale. Riley is a registered stop on the Maple Sunday list, so join us in March for maple sugar cotton candy, our Scholastic Book Fair, and other fun activities!