Indian Hill High School Students Design Outdoor Wellness Space

In May of this year, The Blooming Braves, a group of innovative student leaders, celebrated with others at the grand opening of Indian Hill High School’s new wellness space-The Blooming Braves Accessible Outdoor Wellness Space. The outdoor space is both vibrant and accessible to all students and staff at IHHS.

The community celebration on May 14^th marked the realization of a student-driven vision that took root when the Blooming Braves were named finalists in 2024’s The Big Pitch competition. They received funding through the 2024 Indian Hill Foundation Brave Day of Giving.

The space was imagined with overall wellness in mind, a place to reflect, connect and relax. 

“This is more than just a physical space—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when the student voice is elevated and empowered,” said Indian Hill teacher and Blooming Braves mentor Molly Johnson. “The Grand Opening of the accessible outdoor learning space marks a significant achievement by our Blooming Braves and reflects our district’s unwavering commitment to providing authentic, meaningful, real-world learning experiences for all learners. With thoughtful planning and collaboration, our students have created a space designed to meet the diverse needs of the Indian Hill High School community. 

“Throughout the process, our students embraced leadership roles, shared their vision, and actively engaged with community members to garner support and bring this project to life. I’m incredibly proud of their dedication and thrilled for them to experience the culmination of their hard work as they welcome our community into the space for the very first time.”

“Blooming Braves is a beautiful example of what happens when creativity, student passion, and community support come together,” said Indian Hill Foundation Executive Director Meredith Ducey. “The Indian Hill Foundation is proud to support this inspiring initiative—and we are deeply grateful to our donors, whose generosity makes opportunities like this possible.”

“The generosity of our Brave Day of Giving donors helped make this dream a reality,” said Indian Hill CFO/Treasurer Mick Davis. “This project embodies our strategic focus and investment in student leadership, and we are excited to celebrate this meaningful milestone together.”

Student Driven

“My favorite part of the Grand Opening was sharing the space with my mom and showing her the work I did with my class. I also liked having my elementary and middle school teachers visit so I could hug them and they could look at our flowers.” – Nico Hammer, IH Sophomore (May 2025)

“I think it was cool for my classmates and me to create a space that everyone in our school can use. This project made me feel confident speaking in front of people, and I liked sharing the garden with the community. I learned how to create a budget, and I liked going to Home Depot to buy flowers.” – Zev Pollock, IH Sophomore (May 2025)

“This is a shining example of what happens when students are given the opportunity to lead and create change,” said Indian Hill CEO/Superintendent Kirk Koennecke. “The Blooming Braves have built a space that reflects the best of Indian Hill—compassion, creativity, and community. We are grateful to our supporters and proud to showcase the talents and leadership of our students.”