Bedford Audubon Society

Academic Community Students Build a Bridge at Bedford Audubon Society's Bylane Farm
By David Albano

From the Physics Lab to a Bylane Bridge: The Academic Community Builds a Trail Bridge as a Community Service Project

“I get to stand on and by something I designed.” Sam Ogden is speaking about the model he built in physics class and the bridge he and his fellow students built at Bylane Farm, Bedford Audubon’s newest sanctuary on Todd Road in Lewisboro.

The endeavor started in a physics class at the Academic Community (ACES), an alternative school and part of Fox Lane High School. Science teacher Christy Giuliano organized the project, which started with physics on the page and moved through models in lab, to construction and community service at Bylane Farm.

Front Row (left to right): Balbina Vilorio, Randy Rameriz, Christy Giuliano, Lorielle Jimenez, Caitlin Phelps, Eileen Frangella, Dana Sheck, Matisse Laurel, Mara Cates, Jackie Capriola, Mike Papa. Back Row: Dave Albano, Sam Ogden.

A core philosophy of the Academic Community is experiential learning, so the project is an extension of this method of education. The first step of the project was local architect Tom Smith’s visit to the class to speak about structural design and technical drawing. The students then studied the physics of bridges for two weeks. After this, it was into the lab to design and build a model bridge that was structurally sound and demonstrated an efficient use of materials. Mrs. Giuliano set up a method to test each model bridge for strength relative to overall weight. Mr. Smith returned to the class and judged the students’ bridges based on the physics concepts. Sam Ogden’s arch design was proclaimed the winner.

Mr. Smith then took Sam’s design and created a blueprint for a twenty-five foot bridge to span the stream west of the ponds at Bylane. Bedford Audubon, through the Education Committee, provided the funding for the materials and the students began building the bridge as a community service project.

The first construction crew worked through a rainy Saturday under the guidance of Mr. Smith and Mrs. Giuliano. The drenched, yet dedicated, students worked all day drilling and bolting the lumber that gradually became the trusses and the arch. Students Octavia Williams and Laura Molina kept the crew focused, happy and working hard.

The second crew did the grunt work of hauling the trusses into place by carrying large sections of the assembled bridge down to the location. The actual placing of the trusses over the stream was completed because of a monumental effort by student Mike Papa. On October 3, the final construction was completed. The students screwed the final planks into place, put on the final part of the handrail and made sure the bridge was level.

Bedford Audubon thanks the following students for taking the time to give to their local community: Octavia Williams, Monique Felder, Jackie Capriola, Mia Lofaro, Laura Molina, Mike Papa, Mara Cates, Josh Gottlieb, Chris D’Onofrio, Laurel Jimenez, Raphael Jimenez, Caitlin Phelps, Randy Ramirez, Matisse Laurel, Dana Sheck, Balbina Valorio, Erica Ganns, Eileen Frangella, and the bridge’s architect, Sam Ogden.

By linking the academic concepts to the actual construction for the betterment of their community, the students learned numerous skills and ideas. Mrs. Giuliano said she is thankful for the opportunity to get the concepts of physics into the real world and happy that this opportunity also allowed her class to do

something important for the local community and Audubon. Tait Johansson, who creates the trails at Bylane, expressed gratitude for the students’ efforts. The Education Committee would like to thank Tait for the work he did during the construction of the bridge.

We can make good stuff happen! If you are looking for ways to connect your students or students you know to Audubon, please contact the Education Committee chair at education@bedfordaudubon.org.

Photo Courtesy of and Copyright © by Mia Lofaro

Copyright © 2003 Bedford Audubon Society
e-mail questions or comments webmaster