According to the American Academy of Dermatology, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. It only takes one blistering sunburn during childhood or adolescence to nearly double a person’s chance of developing melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, later in life. Seeking shade is an easy way to reduce the risk of skin cancer, along with covering up and wearing a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.

To protect students from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays while also giving them a place to learn outside, the American Academy of Dermatology awarded East Cobb Middle School a grant to build a permanent shade structure on campus.

In addition to the grant, the ECMS Foundation credits the support of the school families, friends, teachers, school staff, and community for making the outdoor classroom possible.

“Partnering with Goodman Dermatology, Lena Carstens, Jeff McCoy, UCB Pharma, AAD, Korkat, past Foundation leaders, Principal Young, and so many dedicated community members whose collective vision has provided our students a creative, healthy, sun shaded structure allowing classroom learning to extend outdoors! Kudos to our proactive community and our deserving students. We know this outdoor classroom will be a breath of fresh air for years to come," the school foundation said in a statement. 

Planning for the shaded outdoor classroom started several years ago before students or staff even moved into the new East Cobb Middle School location on Terrell Mill Road.

“For years, our students and teachers at ECMS thoroughly enjoyed using the outdoor classroom at our old location, and it was one of the few things that they hated to lose,” explained Principal Leetonia Young. “Several years ago, when the construction of the new building for East Cobb Middle School became a reality, Jeff McCoy, former ECMS parent, President of our Foundation, and Chair of School Council, asked me a question. "What was something that our parent organizations could help provide to ECMS that we would not be getting with the new build?" Our answer was an outdoor classroom.” 

The middle school teachers are looking forward to being able to use an outdoor teaching and learning space again, according to their principal.

“Students are always so excited to be able to get outside in a change of scenery. It just somehow motivates the students to learn,” Principal Young added. “It’s literally also a breath of fresh air, a stress reliever, and now with a sunshade structure, this outdoor space will be a little safer for the skin, protecting our students and staff from harmful UV rays as well as being a little cooler on warm days.”

Since its launch in 2000, the AAD’s Shade Structure Grant Program has awarded funding for more than 400 shade structures, which provide shade for more than 3 million individuals each day.

The Shade Structure Grant Program is part of the AAD’s SPOT Skin Cancer™ campaign to reduce the incidence of skin cancer by educating the public about effective skin cancer prevention tips. To learn more about the Shade Structure Grant Program or ways to prevent and detect skin cancer, visit SpotSkinCancer.org. 

“The completion of the Outdoor Classroom culminates three years of planning and fundraising. I know the teachers and kids will love having class outside,” praised former ECMS parent and Foundation president Jeff McCoy.