Designing an Outdoor Classrooms Learning Lab in my Backyard
Designing an Outdoor Classrooms Learning Lab in my Backyard
The birds are starting to sing and I can smell Spring in the air! I can’t wait to get myself back in the garden and digging in the dirt. About this time last year I 
launched my first e-course called Teaching In the Dirt: Designing Outdoor Classrooms. At that point my goal was to transform a back section of my yard into a new Wildlife Garden. A lot happens in a year. With a newly refreshed Designing Outdoor Classrooms e-course, I have decided to transform my entire yard into an Outdoor Classrooms Learning Lab. How will I do this?
My first step is to find inspiration. Since founding Outdoor-Classrooms.com, I have been collecting garden stories for this purpose. For example: This past week I was inspired by Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign. The first lady recently visited unsuspecting local gardeners in an effort to educate and highlight the benefits of Outdoor Classrooms.
My second step is to prepare and plan. This is where I become a student in my own Designing Outdoor Classrooms e-course. My vision is to create Learning Labs for my 4 types of Gardens. (Gardens that Feed; Gardens that Attract Wildlife; Garden that Honor Intergenerational Connections; Gardens Rooted in Curriculum) You don’t want to miss this.
My third step is to share and document my story every step of the way. I am not a
master gardener and do not have expert landscape designers at my finger tips. However, I do have passion, curiosity and believe wholeheartedly that Outdoor Classrooms can change the way we think about teaching and learning. Anything is possible.
My final step is to build a community of Natural Teachers. Please come join me on my journey. Let’s plant seeds of hope together and launch into Designing Outdoor Classrooms!
I want to hear from you. Do you have an Outdoor Space that you would like to cultivate and transform into a learning lab? Are you overwhelmed with where to start? Leave a comment below and come join us and take on this challenge together. Sign Up Today!
