Come Alive Outside

Green Streets Challenge Middlebury

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People dancing downtown Middlebury

The possibilities seem endless when creative volunteers come together to plan and execute a family-friendly event in Middlebury Vermont. The effort was led by Come Alive Outside, the Better Middlebury Partnership and Carpenter & Costin. On a beautiful Wednesday afternoon in August, Carpenter & Costin rolled out six thousand square feet of fresh sod to carpet Middlebury’s Battell Bridge on Main Street, transforming into a barefoot-friendly block party for all ages. There was food, games and demonstrations throughout the event. While the music played, the adults danced and the children enjoyed each other, friends and families.

Green Streets Challenge Rutland

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Kids playing in street with foam toys

Carpenter & Costin and Come Alive Outside recently transformed Center Street in Rutland into an urban playground in a pretty creative way. We captured the process in a time-lapse video so you can see what it takes in just about two minutes. “We laid down 6,000 square feet of sod in the morning and then removed it in the evening thanks to a small army of volunteers who helped roll it up,” said Russ Marsan. “In between setting up and tearing down, Come Alive Outside and WonderFeet Kids Museum hosted many games and fun events for the kids to enjoy.”

Kids Come Alive Outside to Learn

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Sunflower Field

In April, Team Carpenter & Costin laid out a plan, tilled the soil and prepared several acres to ensure a successful growing season. Kids then gathered in June to plant a huge pumpkin patch and over an acre of sunflowers under the guidance of instructors and volunteers from RRMC. The growing ‘farm’ was then monitored and periodically watered to ensure it stayed healthy.
In the Fall, the kids came back together to harvest the pumpkins, test their skills in the sunflower maze and learn more about sunflowers and growing foods sustainably.

Rutland Winterfest Snow Sculpting

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snow sculpture of Minions by Team Carpenter & Costin

Rutland’s Winterfest was a big hit once again thanks to many volunteers who helped make things happen, and the large crowds that came to enjoy the events. With events spread out over all 9 days of Presidents’ Week, there is definitely something of interest for everyone and every age group. Carpenter & Costin provides the manpower, snow boxes and of course the front-end loader to create the large 4’x8′ blocks for the teams. We’ve set these up for the past few years, and especially appreciate when Mother Nature helped out with some fresh powder.