Our Campus
The Nature of Things campus is located on the site of a former 18th century dairy farm. The restored historic barn still stands and is used today to teach farm history as well as the history of Nashua, NH and Dunstable, MA. Our Groton Road property boasts several healthy, high-performance “green” buildings located on 22 acres and abuts 350 acres of conservation land. The buildings meet strict criteria for site selection and sustainable building practices while utilizing highly efficient plumbing systems, solar voltaic electricity, and a super- efficient geothermal heating system. It also utilizes recycled and local materials, maximizes natural lighting, includes certified wood from sustainably managed forests, and is void of products that contain toxins that may contribute to unhealthy buildings.
The licensed commercial kitchen features the organic vegetables grown in the school gardens in the school’s healthy, hot lunch program. The many green aspects of the school buildings and campus are utilized on a daily basis in the school to teach about energy, conservation, recycling, water efficiency, earth science, biology, farming, sustainability, ecology, weather, economics, health and nutrition, community, collaboration, and critical thinking.
The sustainable campus also includes:
- Salt-water swimming pool
- Low ropes course
- Ball fields and courts
- Hiking trails
- Working animal farm with animal barns and riding ring
- Duck pond teaming with wildlife
- Organic greenhouse and gardens
- Fruit orchard
- Cultured and wild berry bushes and brambles
Thanks to the collaboration of a team of green architects, planners, environmental science specialists, local contractors, and Green Building & Consulting Group, 2nd Nature Academy was awarded the first non-residential Platinum LEED Certified Building in the state of New Hampshire. The Platinum Building also received the 2010 Lean & Green Building Award from Business New Hampshire Magazine.
