MEXICO — Eighth-grader Abby Parent always knew that Maine was known as Vacationland. What she didn’t know is just how her home area of the River Valley fit into the logo.

“I didn’t know it was so beautiful,” she said Friday morning during the culminating activity of Mountain Valley Middle School’s two-week-long River Valley project.

One of the myriad activities students participated in was an exploration of the towns of the River Valley, their history, flora and fauna, and recreational sites.

Abby, of Mexico, was one who climbed Tumbledown Dick Mountain in Peru and saw the River Valley from there.

Others, such as eighth-grader Caleb Miele of Peru, studied the insects in the area. He discovered that the River Valley is home to at least 50 or 60 different species. He helped put together an insect field guide to the River Valley.

Angela O’Leary was particularly surprised to discover the many different kinds of dragonflies.

Kristin Arsenault, also an eighth-grader, didn’t know Bald Mountain had a pond, but she discovered that during a hike. And Sam Blanchard was surprised to learn just how beautiful the walking trail woods were at Hosmer Field in Rumford.

Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders didn’t just discover some of the natural beauty right in their backyards, they learned lots about the history of the towns and their many historic buildings, how to make paper and about some of the memorials in the area.

For Edward Varnum, discovering that the Rumford Public Library is a Carnegie library was something he didn’t know before.

Sixth-graders visited several old cemeteries, made rubbings of the names and dates, then made their own “stones” with epitaphs often humorously describing themselves, which were displayed on the lawn of the school Friday.

The entire staff and student body took part over the past two weeks. Along with lots of field work, such as learning the species of trees growing in the River Valley and visiting the covered bridge in Andover, they also did follow-up work back in the classroom.

Some projects on exhibit showed the change in population over the decades, while others detailed the median incomes of the people living there.

“This opened our eyes to different things around that we never noticed,” Sam said.

Some of the teachers also learned a few things, too.

Music teacher Dan Labonte, who lives in Livermore Falls and who led some of the middle school students on hikes, said he learned much about the history of the River Valley area.

“Being able to get in the community helped us learn a lot about the history and the buildings. The kids taught me,” he said.

Students, community members and a few board members had a chance to visit each exhibit during the morning.

Special education teacher Jessica Casey believes the project was well worth the planning and effort.

“There were so many teachable moments taking the kids out into the community and watching them enjoy things we have around here. Most have lived here their whole lives, and they are seeing things for the first time,” she said.

Former board member Fran DeFilipp said she was impressed with the work and all the thought that went into the two-week project.

Principal Ryan Casey said the plans, which encompassed all grades and every teacher, began last year. He’s hopeful that a similar schoolwide project can take place again at the end of another school year.