The Future of the Farm

In 1912, when Mary C. Wheeler purchased the property that would become Wheeler Farm, she envisioned a school with two campuses, one on the bustling East Side of the City of Providence and the other, resting in the forests and farmland of Seekonk, Massachusetts. She pictured the farm as a destination for her students to experience nature, learn in a different environment to the city campus, and paint in a beautiful setting that would be similar to her own experiences painting in the gardens of Europe. Wheeler Farm would go on to serve those purposes and, as you can see in the video below, a great deal more. (Not seeing the video below? Please be sure to accept cookies on this site, or if you prefer, you can watch the video directly on Vimeo.)

Now, we’re ready to see what’s waiting down the trail in Wheeler Farm’s future. Like Miss Wheeler over a century ago, we continue to envision enhancements to our country campus, to create the greatest and most positive impact on the student experience. While the farm has long buzzed with the activity of athletics and a few beloved programs and special events, its potential as a second academic campus remains less than fully tapped.

Making the Farm an Essential Part of Every Wheeler Student’s Education

The new, comprehensive master plan, developed by the school leadership and Board of Trustees, will significantly expand our capacity to support teachers’ visions for incorporating nature- and place-based learning. When these plans are brought to life over the next decade through strategic financial investment and a fundraising campaign, they will fulfill a vision in which the farm becomes an essential part of every Wheeler student’s education. What will that look like? New integrated learning and gathering spaces throughout the farm will include:

When completed, these additions will not resemble large academic buildings that would typically be more at home on a city campus. Instead, they will be smaller structures distributed organically across the farm property, connected by natural paths and trails and integrated with the topography of the environmental landscape.

What’s next?

We are breaking ground on the farm’s next phase this spring and will provide updates as the projects progress.

How will this impact parking, access, etc. at the farm?

Throughout the construction at the farm, we will be careful to ensure that all work is done safely and with minimal impact on the day-to-day activities on campus. There will also be ample parking.

Why are you focusing on the Nest and a pool first?

Our master site planning process clearly indicated that the Nest needed a new home base because it is currently spread out across the farm, and some of the classrooms are windowless. These classrooms are also taking up needed athletic space in the Van Norman Field House. By moving the Nest into its new home, the field house will be reclaimed for sports.

We also know that our current pool does not meet the demands of our summer programming, and it’s coming to the end of its useful lifespan. The new aquatics center, which will include a designated training pool, will provide boundless opportunities for children to learn how to swim, develop their skills, and really enjoy learning in state-of-the-art facilities that will be available year round for our students, and not just our Wheeler Summer campers.

Our Board-approved master plan that is guiding this work offers a 10-year outlook on the farm that, in addition to these new facilities, also calls for the upgrading of our current facilities, such as resurfacing the farm’s tennis courts.

What about the Providence Campus?

Our master plan includes big plans for Providence, including a new building where the Fresh Air Building currently sits. This new building will more than double the current footprint and provide students, faculty, and staff with a variety of classrooms that allow for more opportunities for design learning, engineering, and Aerie enrichment, as well as social spaces and Upper School faculty offices. The Providence portion of the master plan is on a separate timeline and will be achieved primarily through a comprehensive fundraising campaign.

Want to know more?

You can contact Chief Operating Officer Ian Moorhouse (ianmoorhouse@wheelerschool.org) with any questions about the farm projects. If you want to learn more about how you can help make these ambitions a reality, please contact Head of Advancement Rachel Spaulding (rachelspaulding@wheelerschool.org).