POULSBO — It may have been built quickly, but the new pergola at Breidablik Elementary will help spread environmental awareness for years to come.

The wooden structure, which will eventually be covered in vines, climbing flowers and plants, was built April 28 by a group of Boy Scouts and adults — that morning, to be more specific.

“I got there at 9 a.m., and everyone was working hard and they were all having fun. There was nothing for me to do,” said Breidablik librarian Mary Fox. “When I got back at about 1 p.m. everybody was gone, and it was done.”

The task was organized by Life Scout Ethan Green, who headed up a work party of Boy Scouts from Troop 1571 and adults during construction process as part of his Eagle Scout project. Scouts participating included Logan Green, Eagle Scout Steven Green, Shaughn Seals, Kyle Seals, Clayton Button, Zander Oostman, Nick Deordio, Tom Jensen and Shawn Montgomery. But a few adults, including Scoutmaster Keith Button, Jim Green and Karen Green lent a hand as well.

Although the structure is currently bare, Fox said it won’t stay that way.

“It will be a place where plants can grow,” she said. “It’s going to be pleasant place full of various plants and bushes. It’s going to be a place where things can grow and attract wildlife.”

Eventually plants growing on the pergola will provide shade to the west side of the school, she said.

“Right now the sun just beats into the classroom,” Fox said. “When all of the vegetation and plants are on the pergola, it will block the direct sunlight to part of our school building.”

The pergola will also be a place where students can relax and appreciate nature.

“This pergola will invite wildlife and be a great place for kids to be when they’re outside,” Fox said. “Students enjoy those kind of outdoor experiences.”

At Breidablik, this statement holds true on many levels.

“This is just one of many developing projects taking place at our school,” Fox said. “We focus on sustainability of the environment. This is only the beginning. We want to continue these kinds of projects all around the building — especially on the outside.”

Breidablik principal Lynn Rasmussen could barely contain her excitement as well.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” she said. “The structure is beautiful. It will make a significant impact. We’re planning on having many types of climbing plants on the pergola. We want to have as much as we can there for our students to enjoy.”

Rasmussen said the pergola fits perfectly into Breidablik’s environmentally-friendly philosophy.

“We focus on the sustainability of the environment,” she said. “This project fits well into our plans of preserving the environment as much as we can.”

Rasmussen praised the Scouts for putting forth the time and effort to construct the pergola.

“We love the partnership we have with the Boy Scouts,” she said. “What they did was great.”