KENT, Conn.—Marvelwood School students and staff joined in annual Earth Day celebrations on Thursday, April 23, coming together to tackle a variety of projects, including creating a new pollinator garden, clearing trails, planting flowers, recycling, building bird feeders and bee houses, and even baking nature-themed cookies to enjoy at lunch.
Each year, Marvelwood’s Earth Day activities include remembrance of Carl “Skip” Tucker, former maintenance director, who orchestrated the school’s move from its original location in Cornwall to the Kent campus in the summer of 1995.
He dedicated himself to making sure that the new campus was ready to serve generations of new students and that it always looked its best. He sometimes worked 16-hour days during the Herculean relocation and never faltering even after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer shortly after the move.
Tucker’s meticulous attention to detail continued throughout the school’s first year on campus; he passed away shortly after graduation in 1996, at only 38 years old. Each year since, on Earth Day/Skip Tucker Day, the school honors his legacy and celebrates his dedication by beautifying the campus.
This year’s activities culminated in the dedication of eight new flowering cherry trees that were planted along the schoolhouse path. Advancement Director Ashley Souk publicly recognized the Class of 2025, which chose campus beautification as their senior gift contribution last year.
