2. The Idea
If you’ve ever climbed trees, rolled down hills, scrambled up rocks,
made mud pies, dammed up water, hid in grass, played house in
bushes, built snow forts, dug in sand, played in dirt, planted seeds,
jumped in leaves, tracked animals, or had fun outside in other,
similar ways, you’ve experienced natural play.
I wanted to bring the experience of natural play to Alexander
students, a place in the great outdoors where children could come
discover, explore, and use their imaginations.
I thought our existing nature area would be a great place to do this.
3. In the beginning
The Thomas E. Rider Nature Study Area was originally
developed by Thomas Rider, a science teacher at
Alexander for nearly 30 years. He noticed that his
students never seemed to lose interest in the outdoors,
so he developed the four acre area as a resource for
students. The nature area was dedicated in his name
upon his retirement in 1986.
4. Ahead of his time . . .
Research shows:
1. Nature enhances academic achievement.
Students learn more when they participate in authentic, inquiry based lessons in the
natural setting.
2. Nature-based activities improve student behavior.
Students who are engaged in authentic learning misbehave less than others. Also,
in the outdoors gets the wiggles out of their systems!
3. Students are motivated to learn when content is connected to nature.
When learning takes place in the environment, students want to find out more, read
research, and truly understand material.
4. Outdoor learning promotes communication.
Students who participate in outdoor project-based activities or issue based activities
to communicate with their peers and community volunteers.
5. Nature helps students focus, including ADHD students.
Students are more engaged in learning because nature is real and relevant for them.
6. Students are healthier and happier when they spend time outside.
Students get more exercise when they are outside, whether recess, P.E., or even for
student learning.
5. We needed funding . . .
August 2011-Alexander’s idea to create a natural playground was
randomly chosen for the Pepsi “Refresh Your World” grant competition.
We began collecting Pepsi bottle caps to use for Power Voting.
September 2011-Voting for our idea began on the Pepsi Refresh Your
World website. People from all over the country voted daily. Our idea
remained in second place for most of the month.
October 2011-We won a grant of $50,000.00 by finishing in fourth place
in the voting.
6. Our Work Began
A committee of school staff and community members was formed to plan for the natural
playground. After doing some research, we decided that what we really wanted to do
with our money was create an outdoor classroom. We hired Nature Explore to work with
us to design the space.
7. Nature Explore is a collaborative program of the Arbor Day Foundation and Dimensions
Educational Research Foundation. The mission of this comprehensive, research-based initiative
is to help children and families develop a profound engagement with the natural world, where
nature is an integral, joyful part of children's daily learning.
Nature Explore offers on-site outdoor classroom design services with a specially trained
landscape architect-educator team. Our design team met with us for two days in November
2011. The result was our own concept plan.
8. With our concept plan in hand we began laying out
stations. Community members adopted stations and
construction began.
9.
10. Community involvement
Help with our project came from many sources in and around our community.
Businesses donated materials and services:
Pepsi Corporation Home Depot Foundation Lowe’s Foundation
Alexander Equipment A-1 Supply Co., LLC Attica Hardware
Attica Packaging Co. Bernard Schmieder PE,LS Bonsal American
Concreations, LLC Conservation Connects Frey Sand and Gravel
Iroquois Job Corps Johnson’s Nursery Merle Excavating
Palmiter’s Nursery Pudgie’s Nursery United Materials
Volunteers donated time and expertise.
We secured grants from:
Additional funding came from individuals and groups.
11.
12. Ribbon Cutting
The outdoor classroom officially opened on
October 12, 2012 with a ribbon cutting
ceremony. State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer
spoke about the importance of outdoor,
unstructured play, at a time when electronic
devices compete increasingly for children’s
attention.
It was a beautiful fall day. Children and their
families enjoyed a variety of activities in the
classroom’s 10 educational stations.
13. A work in progress . . .
Our work in the outdoor classroom is on going. Committees have
been formed to work on curriculum and to plan community events.
We continue to need volunteers and to seek funding. There are
plans to add new stations and maintenance of the area is an ongoing
concern.
The Original Idea Remains:
provide a place in the great outdoors where children can come
discover, explore, and use their imaginations
