Joe Keers and Todd Martin, both Batavia High School seniors, have developed the Alice Gustafson courtyard conversion.

The swamp in the middle of Batavia’s Alice Gustafson School’s courtyard has been drained and a wooden deck is rising in its place, as Joe Keers and his dad, David, were busy cutting planks and fittings recently after school.

Joe Keers and Todd Martin, both Batavia High School seniors, have developed the Alice Gustafson courtyard conversion and a similar project at BHS as part of efforts to earn Eagle Scout ranks.

Over the past several weeks, the pair has worked to reshape the Gustafson area and a grassy area at the high school into appealing outdoor spaces.

As part of the process, each student had to plan, develop and give leadership to a service project.

Each belongs to two different Scout troops, but they have one common goal: Giving back to the community and schools they both respect and appreciate.

Martin spearheaded the BHS courtyard project, which included the construction of a 6- by 8-foot patio, removing two trees, planting two new trees, creating flowerbeds, planting perennials, edging, and mulching.

He said the process took three consecutive Sundays. At each work session, he recruited 15 to 20 friends to help. Martin also worked to get most materials donated or discounted, including plants from Spring Bluff Nursery.

Once completed, the Alice Gustafson School deck will be used for outdoor learning, seating, and relaxed reading.

“This project stretched my communications skills,” says Todd, who plans on studying business after graduation. “I learned so much about myself and teamwork throughout this process.”

Keers, an Alice Gustafson alum and the son of Batavia Public School’s maintenance staff member David Keers, was the lead on the AGS courtyard renovation.

He, along with a few friends, gutted the swamp area in the middle of the courtyard to make way for an octagon-shaped deck. Home Depot supplied a rent-free auger to Keers, which allowed him to create the deck footings. Lumber for the deck was donated by the BPS101 Buildings and Grounds Department.

“The pond was left undone for quite some time, so it was a labor-intensive project,” Keers said.

Once completed, the AGS deck will be used for outdoor learning, seating, and relaxed reading. Without the swamp/overgrown vegetation, the upkeep on the renovated AGS courtyard should be minimal.

Over at BHS, Martin said he hopes the renovated courtyard will eventually include outdoor seating for students to eat lunch and study outside.

For now, the space is used primarily by students in Chris Payton’s Developing Opportunities (DO) program. These students have a garden that sits in the very back of the courtyard. The garden is part of the DO biology and environmental science curriculum and also helps students with teamwork by building on social and emotional skills.

According to Scouting Magazine, since the inception of the Eagle Scout award in 1912, only 2.01 percent of eligible Scouts have earned Scouting’s highest honor. The percentage has been trending upward over the years, now at around 6 percent, but the award is still pretty rare.

— Batavia students turn school courtyards into usable spaces —