The chirping of birds and the smell of crisp Michigan air can do wonders after a long day at school.
Spring 2024, Skyline’s counselors and other staff members built a labyrinth across the road from the tennis courts to allow exactly this. This labyrinth is part of the Skyline Mindfulness Walk, which some may remember from last year’s CMPP video.
The walk consists of seven stations in no specific order – although “Until Next Time” is implied to be the final station, none of them are numbered. The walk is a ring around the school.
The stations are as follows:
- Like a Rock: in front of the student entrance. Examine the qualities of stones and stack them.
- Labyrinth: across the road from the tennis courts. As you walk the labyrinth, drop your troubles behind you and notice if you feel any lighter.
- Note to Self: next to the student pick-up loop. Hit the notes on the xylophone and think about how the vibrations make you feel.
- Sensing Nature: near the outdoor lunch area. Pay close attention to what you can see, hear, and feel.
- Chalk Patterns and Messages: far behind the visitor/late entry entrance. Use the chalk to create a message or image that’s inspiring or uplifting.
- Sole Purpose: next to the visitor/late entry entrance. Step onto the rocks without your socks or shoes. Pay attention to your breathing with each step.
- Until Next Time: in between the staff entrance and the large concrete staircase. Rake the pebbles into interesting patterns.
Anyone who is having a particularly nasty day at school can use the walk to clear their mind, although using the walk during the school day requires permission. “We don’t have a free open pass that you could go outside and utilize it on your own,” says counselor Heather Schimmel, but “if a student is needing a break they could come see their counselor. With [or accompanying] a counselor, you could absolutely go outside and utilize it.”
Counselor Dennis Brunzell says the walk is seen as a “community asset,” meaning it is possible to visit the walk during after school hours or on the weekend, and to go with friends and family.
Despite being available for use, the walk is still just barely unfinished. For instance, the chalk station needs a little bit of maintenance in order for the chalk to be always available.
The Skyline Mindfulness Walk has been in development since 2021, around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. “There was actually a surprising amount of red tape for this sort of thing,” states Brunzell.
Several students in the 2027 class used the walk last year during Skytime. Roman Gattuso (‘27) says that “I only really use the xylophone, just for fun, and I don’t really need or use the other parts of the walk.”
Cecilia Tukzak (27’) agrees: “I honestly think that just walking outdoors and getting some fresh air is all I need to reset.”
On the other hand, Sebastion Fry (‘27) really enjoys the walk: “…it was just a nice break from school.”
Counselor Jacinta Nafziger says the walk was based on a walk created by Stark Parks in Petros Lake Park, Michigan.
The walk is the result of two grant funds from Community Mental Health with Washtenaw County and an environmental grant through Ann Arbor Public Schools, Counselor Heather Schimmel also shares with the post.
