Duo Raising Money To Connect Students, Nature

There is a beautiful wildlife sanctuary right across from Wilkins Elementary School, and two local Ricks have teamed up to make sure students get a chance to see it.

Rick Katzenberg and Rick Crocker have begun a project to repair the boardwalk that leads into The Great Meadow. This 73-acre nature preserve is teeming with wildlife and just as much aesthetic value in its landscape.

A careful walk with them along the broken-down path revealed a beautiful view of true New England beauty right off of Boston Post Road. A deer ran off as we entered, followed by the flight of a heron overhead.

Crocker, who is an abutter to the property, said that the boardwalk was made 20 years ago by the Amherst Conservation Commission, which owns the land. Teachers at Wilkins used to take their classes out through the boardwalk to learn more about the local environment.

Now, the path is not safe and the school has not brought a class down to the preserve for at least five years.

That just won’t do for these nature-lovers.

“It has been a while since the kids have been out here, and I always thought it was neat that they brought them out,” said Crocker. “The wilderness, the nature is phenomenal out here.”

They plan to raise around $1,000 this summer to replace the worn-down sections of the boardwalk and see it used once again. The decking will be replaced and new planking will be laid on the path, along with new foundations and support.

Katzenberg said that they are enlisting the help of Amherst Boy Scout troop #613 to clear the area and put the new boardwalk together, while local construction contractor Jim Sickler will be providing the heavy equipment and some telephone poles toward the project.

Amherst Conservation Commission member and local environmental expert Bill Wickman will help oversee the project. Of course, other volunteers are welcome to pitch in.

Once enough money is donated, they plan to complete the project before school starts this year, in the hopes that science teachers will use the land once again. Crocker is even planning additional work in the future, including a possible extension of the boardwalk and restoring an old hiking trail near the boardwalk.

“It is really a great spot, it has always been a great spot,” he said. “You know the students are getting something they cannot get in the classroom.”

Want to see the project completed?

Drop off your donation at town hall, or send your donation to:

Amherst Town Hall

2 Main St.

Amherst, NH

03031

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Amherst Conservation Commission

Care of: Town Administrator

Item: Boardwalk Rebuilding