The seeds of the Outdoor Learning Lab were planted by Peter Rosnick, Director of SAGE (Sustainable Agriculture and Green Energy) at GCC and Dean of Science, Engineering, Nursing and Math when the greenhouse was built, who secured financial support from those generous individuals and organizations listed below.

Future plans for the OLL include expansion of our Meadow Teaching Garden to produce more food to supply our Food Pantry and dining services; further growth of the Orchard; and development of a large wetlands at the entrance to campus that has enormous potential for teaching and learning around plant diversity and hydrology.

This beautiful campus has changed and grown significantly in the last two decades and will continue to do so as our community and energy and transportation challenges also change. We welcome meeting that transformation and invite you to learn and grow with us!

Founding Donors

• Wallace Genetic Foundation
• Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Trails Program
• National Science Foundation – Advanced Technological Education
• USDA Secondary Education, Two-Year Post-Secondary Education, and Agriculture in the K-12 Classroom
• Massachusetts STEM Starter Academy
• U.S. Department of Energy (with support from Congressman John Olver)
• Donors to the Greenfield Community College SAGE Center – (Sustainable Agriculture and Green Energy)
• The Rice Family
• Silas and Linda Kopf
• Morey Phippen and Brian Adams
• GCC Student Senate Activity Fund

If you would like to help the Outdoor Learning Laboratory continue to grow and thrive, please consider making a donation at gcc.mass.edu/give.

In keeping with our mission as a community college, the OLL was built upon relationships with the wider community. Partners like Mount Grace Land Trust, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, and local Greenfield residents participated in work days with students, faculty and staff that have been essential in maintaining and enhancing the gardens—and also provided the pleasure of working outside together. 

The OLL is open to visitors from our surrounding community. Anyone wishing to learn more about appropriate native plants for gardens in our region can visit our botanical garden and with the help of a smart phone and QR codes, delve even deeper.