With its roots in our Shaker heritage, our unique Hands-to-Work program is grounded in purposeful work and the rewards of cooperative effort to benefit the Darrow community. Every Wednesday at Darrow, some 20 Hands-to-Work crews of students undertake a variety of tasks. For example, the Garden Crew might weed the raspberry and blueberry groves or harvest gardens for the Darrow kitchen, while Samson Environmental Center (SEC) crew will clean and maintain the greenhouse, settling tanks, and other elements of the Living Machine’s wastewater filtration system. Some Hands-to-Work crews provide valuable services to the greater community, such as mentoring children at a nearby school and caring for animals at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Throughout the course of the year, students rotate through multiple crews, discovering new interests and developing new skills. Through Hands-to-Work students take pride in the practical skills they develop and feel gratified by the visible results of their efforts.

Hands-to-Work at Darrow truly exemplifies our philosophy that learning thrives both within and beyond the classroom. Our video takes you into the Hands-to-Work room where students and staff request tools and equipment for their projects. It then chronicles the mornings of several crews as they pour concrete, winterize beds in the gardens, build and transport picnic tables, split firewood for maple syrup production and heating, prepare lunch for the entire community, and maintain our forest trails. Watch the video, and you’ll see why Wednesday is one of the best days of the week!

A Sampling of Hands-to-Work Crews

• •Design/Build/Construct
  This crew dismantles, re-designs, and repairs stone, brick, and concrete walls, patios, stairways, and walkways, and builds picnic tables, ramps, and more.

• Darrow Dining Services
  Students learn about food service from basic sanitation/safety to nutrition, meal planning, ordering and management. They also serve and clean HTW Break and manage the kitchen compost.

• Head Start
  Darrow students help mentor young people in a program that provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families.

• Livestock Experience
  This crew goes to Hancock Shaker Village to assist at every level of a dynamic livestock operation.

• Maple Sugaring
  Student learn to identify, care for, and reap the benefits from the Sugar Maples on campus and repair and prepare sap lines and the Sugar House for the season.

• Performing Arts
  The group prepares upcoming shows and breaks down previous sets, lights, equipment, etc. for performing arts productions and events.

• Sports
  Students maintain the sports fields, the gym, and every accessory that comes with it. They maintain and prepare uniforms for competing teams.

• Textiles
  Learn both hand and machine sewing skills to create beautiful and functional items like blankets, curtains, upholstery, clothing, decorative effects, etc.