A 99-year-old, 40-foot green boxcar at Apple Ridge Farm summer camp in Floyd County has been repurposed into a completely sustainable, off-the-grid classroom called EBase USA.
Powered completely by solar and wind power, EBase USA will host classes on environmental education and sustainability. Through its 24 batteries, the base will keep functioning for 72 hours should it lose power.
The EBase concept comes from renowned explorer Robert Swan, who launched the first EBase, standing for “educational base,” in Antarctica in 2008. A second was opened in India in 2011.
James Bray of Akzo Nobel spearheaded the development of EBase USA beginning in 2012.
The EBase USA curriculum will soon be added to Apple Ridge Farm’s summer camp programs, which are already underway to serve underprivileged youth of the New River Valley at no cost to them.
