Vision

For weeks there have been piles of wood lining the exterior wall of the Thrive Outdoors leadership and community center - yet to be officially named. Jake and his team have been driving the piles of salvaged wood from their Hopkinton to the center on Elm Street, possibly confusing the Dunkin Donut’s customers who can see the project taking shape from the parking lot just above.

While this could look like a mess or a mistake - scrap piles of wood strewn about a parking lot or lined against a concrete building - to Jake, it’s the start of something beautiful. Each cut of wood has been specifically chosen for its unique curves and bumps - for the trails that twist over it, carved by insects over the years - for its knots that can become holding grips in a Ninja course - for its color, its length. Each of these will be a part of bringing the outdoors, indoors - literally. These cuts of wood are all part of the vision.

A larger part of the vision is to include as many willing and talented people as we can to create something that will appeal to everyone and bring a sense of wonder, peace, and adventure - much like any trip into the outdoors. To help us design the space, Amanda Heisler has joined us as our art and creative director, working closely with Jake and the Thrive Outdoors team to flesh out ideas and bring them to life.

All of these pictures were from earlier in September and in looking at them now, it’s incredible to see how far we’ve come in only a matter of weeks. Sometimes, when you’re in the midst of a huge project, it’s easy to forget to notice the progress or to only see the mess you’ve made, rather than the amazing strides you’ve taken.

Today, Amanda will be back, but painting and starting to move from vision to reality. Today, more framing and building will happen. A stage will start to form. Low ropes elements will be designed. Bathrooms will be built in the coming weeks. Yes, we’re still looking like a bit of a mess and there’s wood and paint and tools, literally everywhere you look…but it’s coming together.

And it’s coming together because people are coming together to make it happen. And ultimately, that is the true vision for this space. Community, coming together.