Bringing Courage Garden to Life

BY DARRYL GANGLOFF

IN NOVEMBER 2020, a group of dedicated alumni led an important virtual gathering to reflect on historical sexual misconduct at the School. They discussed the creation of an enduring space on campus for healing and contemplation. Two years later, their idea became a reality with the dedication of Courage Garden—a landmark designed to provide comfort, beauty, and peace for those impacted by sexual abuse during their time at Hotchkiss and beyond.

The Oct. 1 ceremony began in Katherine M. Elfers Hall with a student musical performance and a welcome from facilitator Amy Wheeler, executive director of Learning Courage, a nonprofit that works with independent schools to reduce incidents, improve responses, and support healing from sexual misconduct and abuse. Hotchkiss is engaged in an ongoing partnership with Learning Courage as part of strengthening the School’s prevention of and response to sexual misconduct on campus.

“To members of the Hotchkiss community past and present, this is your day. For too long, the voices of those who were abused at Hotchkiss were silenced,” Wheeler said. “The dedication of Courage Garden is part of breaking that silence, acknowledging the pain, and beginning the healing process.”

Project designer Jenna Pfau of Mariani Landscape described the design process behind Courage Garden. “The overall concept was to create a naturalistic garden that took a visitor through a journey of healing with many twists and turns, ups and downs, steps and walls, barriers and entrances. We wanted each ‘nook’ of the garden to feel like a different experience and each turn to hold something unexpected and meaningful. Our goal was to create a powerful space for alumni and survivors, but also a refuge for students to enjoy,” she said.

All-School Co-President Richardine Mamam Nbiba ’23 recited her beautiful poem Skydiving. “I never realized how much courage it took to survive,” she read aloud as the final line.

Head of School Craig Bradley took the stage and said that attending the dedication was an act of bravery for survivors and their loved ones. “As the head of School, my role today, first and foremost, is to apologize,” he said. “I extend this apology to all of you who are survivors. I also extend it to your parents, your families, and those who love you. Like ripples outward from a heavy stone cast, an expanding circle of people have been hurt by the pain that was inflicted on you.”

Bradley said the School continues to refine and enhance its protocols, procedures, and training requirements to ensure that students today and in the future will be cared for and safe. “Courage Garden signifies our commitment to creating and sustaining an environment in which all young people are safe to learn and grow well, a place where young people can thrive,” he said.

He also said the School is “particularly grateful for the profound commitment and remarkable grace of those who have led the creation of Courage Garden.” The leaders of this work are Martha Bryan ’77, Carolyn Eaton ’77, Andy Luke ’77, Anne Owen Armfield ’77, Margaret Simpson ’77, and Fred Wacker ’77. They were supported by members of the Sexual Misconduct

Prevention and Education Advisory Committee, among numerous others.

Bradley mentioned that gardens often symbolize faith and renewal and noted that they thrive on the passage of time. “A garden cannot change the past. Yet Courage Garden can, in a very genuine way, contribute to changing the future,” Bradley said. “I hope that the growth and opportunity for healing symbolized by Courage Garden can indeed take root, and that this growth will continue to be nurtured by your voices.”

At the conclusion of Bradley’s remarks, attendees were led by survivors in a silent walk from Elfers to the garden’s permanent space just north of the sixth fairway of the golf course, with a view of Lake Wononscopomuc. In a moving gesture, a gauntlet of students stood quietly along the path, and members of the Calliope and Blue Notes a cappella groups greeted guests with hushed, stunning music as they arrived at Courage Garden.

The program continued with remarks by friends and survivors. As part of a brief reflective activity, visitors ladled water over the large stones in the center of the garden “to connect with the people, the place, and what all of this represents,” Wheeler said. “Maybe you will even make a wish.” The water rushed over the words etched into the stone: “May you find comfort, beauty, and peace here.” H

Design and construction of Courage Garden were made possible by the generous gifts of alumni in addition to support from the School. The garden was designed by Mariani Landscape of Lake Bluff, IL, and constructed by Kent Greenhouse & Gardens of Kent, CT, with oversight and significant contributions by Hotchkiss Director of Facilities John Bryant and the facilities team. Hotchkiss continues to maintain an absolute commitment to transparency with respect to the investigation of reports of sexual misconduct by members of the faculty or staff that occurred at any time in the School’s history.