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‘#Rewilding’ the schoolyard — District, land trust make space for outdoor learning

by ERIC WELCH, January 31, 2025 1:00 AM

KOOTENAI — "Six months ago, a small piece of school-owned property beside Kootenai Elementary [in #Idaho] was contributing little to the students next door.

"A combination of #woods and #wetlands, the area was appealing to educators aiming to expand the school’s outdoor education opportunities, but teachers were discouraged from using it because of persistent marshiness that made it impossible to visit without tracking mud throughout the school’s halls and classrooms.

"In July, nonprofit #KaniksuLandTrust set out to change that. Since then, the organization has replaced the area’s primitive dirt trails with gravel paths, installed several culverts and a small footbridge to help students traverse the area, and created six unique outdoor classrooms designed to facilitate a variety of lesson types.

"'Just like our teachers need classrooms, outdoor educators need a classroom, too, and playgrounds are quite uninspiring spaces for outdoor education,' said Katie Cox, KLT executive director. 'The idea is really, ‘How much nature can we bring to the schools?'

"The 10-acre parcel is home to a surprisingly diverse collection of plants and features, and includes an aspen grove, a white pine forest and an area that was once home to a small orchard that still contains productive apple trees.

"A natural hill facilitates sledding and a 'boulder hop' circuit is designed to act as a homemade alternative to traditional playground structures.

"'It’s a fun space for the kids to get their wigglies out,' Cox said.

"Anita Palmer, Kootenai’s art and outdoor education specialist, is a primary user of the area. Palmer teaches lessons outside when possible and aims to help students become responsible users of the land by teaching them the '#LeaveNoTrace' principles.

"'They’re just happier outside. More engaged,' Palmer said. 'They definitely have more energy.'

"Because Palmer splits time between outdoor education and art, she also makes use of the area and its resources when helping students practice creative expression.

"This year, students in Palmer’s class have created pinecone bird feeders, traced leaves by placing them under a page and rubbing it with a crayon, and made mandala patterns in the woods using natural materials like stones and pine needles.

"In addition to outdoor education, Cox hopes instructors of core courses can also utilize the space to enhance their curriculum.

"'If teachers want to pull the kids out in order to use nature to teach math or use nature for reading time, there's space for them to do that,' Cox said. 'It can be as simple as sectioning off a space and saying, ‘How many willow trees are planted in this space? Count them and measure the longest branch with a tape measure and collect the data.'

"Elizabeth Sims, a beacon teacher at Kootenai who instructs students who struggle with behavior how to cooperate with peers and adults, uses the space to allow students to stretch their legs in a comforting environment.

"'The gym can be very overstimulating,' Sims said. 'It’s very calming being out in nature,' she added. 'Even the kids that are more high-behavior just seem more grounded out there.'

"With the #Kootenai property transformed, Cox and KLT are now turning their attention toward a pair of spaces they hope to similarly improve on the grounds of Farmin Stidwell and Washington elementary schools."

Read more:
https://bonnercountydailybee.com/news/2025/jan/31/rewilding-the-schoolyard/
#SolarPunkSunday #NatureBasedEducation #NatureBasedLearning #MoreGreenTime #LessScreenTime