The LIGHT Project is officially underway, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where the year takes us!

This fall, first graders across Darke County kicked off the LIGHT Project with a special day at Chenoweth Trails, trading their usual classroom setting for an opportunity to explore, learn, and experience the outdoors firsthand.

This year, we’re excited to welcome first graders from Greenville, Ansonia, Versailles, Tri-Village, Declores Montessori, Franklin Monroe, and Mississinawa Valley.

The LIGHT Project—Literacy, Inquiry, Getting Outside, Having Fun, and Time with Family—encourages young people to spend more time experiencing the world around them. The program combines reading with hands-on activities, outdoor exploration, family experiences, and plenty of opportunities to have fun along the way.

Starting the Year Outside

For our kickoff, students arrived at Chenoweth Trails ready to explore. They spent time outdoors, learned more about the program, and received their LIGHT Project backpacks filled with everything they need to begin their year-long adventure.

And this is just the beginning.

Throughout the school year, students will read books, complete activities, explore the outdoors, spend time with their families, and collect LIGHT Project stars along the way.

Each star represents an opportunity to learn, try something new, get outside, or connect with the people around them. The goal isn’t simply to get students to read more books or spend more time outside. It’s about helping them discover that learning doesn’t have to stop when they leave the classroom.

Learning Beyond the Classroom

One of the most exciting parts of the LIGHT Project is connecting what students are learning in school with real experiences.

A science book can lead to an outdoor discovery. A journal entry can become a family conversation. A hike can turn into a lesson. A new book can spark a new question.

Those moments are what make the LIGHT Project special.

Throughout the year, students will have opportunities to participate in Family Fun Days and other activities that encourage them to explore, spend time with their families, and make memories together.

From outdoor adventures to special events, we hope the LIGHT Project inspires families to keep learning, playing, and discovering long after the school day ends.

A Community Effort

The LIGHT Project is made possible because of the incredible support of our local schools, teachers, families, volunteers, and community partners. Their willingness to help young people experience something beyond the classroom is what allows the program to reach so many students.

A special shout-out goes to Greenville High School’s Careers with Children students, who volunteered during two of our three kickoff days. Their involvement was a great fit for what they’re learning in the classroom, giving them hands-on experience working with younger children and a chance to get a better feel for whether working with kids is something they want to pursue in the future. We’re grateful they chose to spend their time with us and jumped right in to help make the kickoff days a success!

We’re excited to watch these first graders take on the challenge throughout the school year. There will be books to read, stars to earn, questions to ask, places to explore, and plenty of fun along the way.

And we’re just getting started!

With the Darke County kickoff complete, we’re turning our attention to Rhode Island. Later this month, we’ll kick off the LIGHT Project with first graders at St. Philip, Captain Isaac Paine, and West Glocester.

We can’t wait to bring the LIGHT Project to our Rhode Island students and see where their year of reading, exploring, and getting outside takes them!