The weather remained brisk for mid-April, but the sun was shining this weekend as Eastern Iowans helped Matthew 25 build a school garden at Harrison Elementary in Cedar Rapids and celebrated the grand opening of Wickiup Hill Learning Center’s $3.8 million expansion near Toddville. The expansion added 2,200-square-feet of exhibit space among other amenities. See photos of both events:

Wheelbarrows of compost are added to the Harrison Elementary School garden on Saturday, April 13, 2013. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Wheelbarrows of compost are added to the Harrison Elementary School garden on Saturday, April 13, 2013. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

 

Brody Welsh, 6, helps his dad, John Welsh, during the school garden build Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Harrison Elementary in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Brody Welsh, 6, helps his dad, John Welsh, during the school garden build Saturday, April 13, 2013, at Harrison Elementary in Cedar Rapids. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

 

Volunteer students, teachers and parents helped build the quarter-acre school garden at Harrison Elementary in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Volunteer students, teachers and parents helped build the quarter-acre school garden at Harrison Elementary in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Caleb Suydam pours wood chips onto a path between rows at the Harrison Elementary School garden. Suydam was among students from the University of Dubuque who volunteered to help Matthew 25 build the school's first garden. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Caleb Suydam pours wood chips onto a path between rows at the Harrison Elementary School garden. Suydam was among students from the University of Dubuque who volunteered to help Matthew 25 build the school’s first garden. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

 

Students and other volunteers load compost to use in the Harrison Elementary School garden on Saturday, April 13, 2013. The garden is part of the "Kids On Course" program, started by golfer and Cedar Rapids native, Zach Johnson. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Students and other volunteers load compost to use in the Harrison Elementary School garden on Saturday, April 13, 2013. The garden is part of the “Kids On Course” program, started by golfer and Cedar Rapids native, Zach Johnson. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

An arch frames the center of the new exhibit space at Wickiup Hill Learning Center near Toddville. The center celebrated its $3.8 million expansion with an open house on Saturday, April 13, 2013. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

An arch frames the center of the new exhibit space at Wickiup Hill Learning Center near Toddville. The center celebrated its $3.8 million expansion with an open house on Saturday, April 13, 2013. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

 

Gail Barels, Conservation Education Specialist at Wickiup Hill Learning Center, points out a corn display during a grand opening celebrating the center's expansion. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Gail Barels,
Conservation Education Specialist
at Wickiup Hill Learning Center, points out a corn display during a grand opening celebrating the center’s expansion. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Ian Nelson, 1, of Marion, plays inside the longhouse display during the grand opening of the Wickiup Hill Learning Center's expansion on Saturday, April 13, 2013, near Toddville. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Ian Nelson, 1, of Marion, plays inside the longhouse display during the grand opening of the Wickiup Hill Learning Center’s expansion on Saturday, April 13, 2013, near Toddville. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

 

A replica of a green darner dragonfly can be seen through a telescope at the Wickiup Hill Learning Center near Toddville. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

A replica of a green darner dragonfly can be seen through a telescope at the Wickiup Hill Learning Center near Toddville. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Children play on the giant frog at Wickiup Hill Learning Center during the grand opening of the center's expansion on Saturday, April 13, 2013. (photo/Cindy Hadish)

Children play on the giant frog at Wickiup Hill Learning Center during the grand opening of the center’s expansion on Saturday, April 13, 2013. (photo/Cindy Hadish)