A-7: Starting A Schoolyard Habitat

Appendix 7. Starting A Schoolyard Habitat

"I'd like to start an outdoor classroom. Where do I begin?" by Mimi Dunne, NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife

Since each schoolyard is a unique community of learners and habitat, no one approach works for all. Her is some advice to get started.

Use Appropriate Curriculum

This is often a chicken or egg discussion: do you use the existing setting for environmental education and thus evolve habitat improvements based on need, or do you make improvements so that your curriculum and wildlife benefit?: There are good arguments for both sides of the issue. Most schools, I believe, want to create the habitat and then find curriculum connections. There are less costs involved in using the habitat "as is" (no improvements/modifications), and perhaps the use of the site will be more ingrained into the curriculum if its use evolves slowly. On the other hand, a developed outdoor classroom can be the focal point of new implemented environmental education curriculum. Either way you proceed, be sure that the site and project ties into the curriculum and helps meet the new state curriculum standards. Patti Howely, a Winfield teacher and NJ Audubon"s Bridges to the Natural World facilitator, offers the following ideas for using an outdoor classroom.

Pick a site on the school grounds and get permission to allow it to go uncultivated.

Allow the plants in this area to grow freely. It should become a natural community of grasses and wildflowers.

Use KWL sheet (what we Know, what we Want to learn, and what we Learned) with the children. Have them observe the site, write what they see and then fill in what they would like to know and what new things they learned in their first visit.

Consistent observation is key. The plot should be examined as often as possible. Students can keep a journal or use photography to record changes. Keep a chart with changes and dates in the classroom.

Take a workshop

The use and creation of an outdoor classroom should be viewed first and foremost as a learning experience; your education is evolving too. It is highly recommended that you begin by taking a Bridges or WILD or PLT Workshop. The Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife also offers WILD School Sites worships. These 6-hour workshops provide a wealth of resources, insights, and ideas on how to get started as well as the rudiments of a network you can call on as hour project progresses.

Your site is unique

Just as you and your students are individuals, your site has its own strengths and limitations. Work with your strengths. Don't expect to recreate a project another school has done. There is no one right way to undertake a schoolyard habitat project; go for what seems to make sense with your faculty, administration, students, parents, and environment.

Develop your planning team

If you take a project on by yourself, set up a solid framework in case you leaves. A team of teachers is the recommended framework. The support of the administration, custodial staff, selected parents and other community members and sudent involvement is critical. Make the process democratic and inclusive; it may go in a direction you didn't expect.

Let your students do the research

What plants attract butterflies? It is okay if you don't know but let your students get on the internet or go to the library to research the requirements. Their learning is a lot more important than the actual habitat itself. Let teams of students do the design for the project, write letters requesting donations, make a presentation to the School Board or other group, etc.

Enlist the help of specialists

The Coalition for Schoolyard Habitat has a newly-formed corps of mentors waiting for a phone call to help. Mentors have been asked to sign on to provide advice on planting, design, curriculum connections, team building, and other aspects of the school yard habitat. You need to demonstrate that you have taken the initial steps to attend a workshop, enlist a team and connect to the curriculum. To contact a mentor, call me 908.737.4125. Experts are great resources.

Money isn't everything (but it sure does help)

Money to implement projects is always cited as a barrier to move forward. There are several guaranteed sources of funding and many easy-to-obtain ones as well. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides up to $2,500 in matching funds for schoolyard habitat projects. Some projects flounder not for lack of money but lack of commitment and community support. Sometimes it is easier to gee the money than the support and assistance to use. it.

Stay connected

The Coalition for Schoolyard Habitat is devoted to networking. Through the mentoring program, we are trying to build more links. Our events like the workshop in March at Pocono Environmental Education Center help to strengthen information channels. Contact me if you are not part of the coalition but would like to receive our notices. Also, check out: www.americanbirding.org, www.nwf.org, www.garden.org, www.gbr.org for more information.

Contacts

For more information about the New Jersey Coalition for School Yard Habitats, please contact:

Monique Baron
Phone: 732.932.8031
Fax: 732.932.6837
email: baron@aesop.rutgers.edu
Regional Coordinators:
North Jersey:

Lisa Leal
Greater Newark Conservancy
973.642.4646

Central Jersey:

Hazel England
Somerset County Environmental Education Center
908.766.2489

Lisa M. Kasabach
Isles, Inc.
609.393.5656 Ext. 20

South Jersey:

Barbary Fieldler
Galloway Township Recycling Coordinator
609.652.9265

Copyright 2000. Great Swamp Watershed Association.


Appendix 7. Starting A Schoolyard Habitat "I'd like to start an outdoor classroom. Where do I begin?" by Mimi Dunne, NJ Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife Since each schoolyard is a unique community of learners and habitat, no one approach works for all. Her is some advice to get started. Use Appropriate Curriculum This is often a chicken or egg discussion: do you use the existing setting for environmental education and thus evolve habitat improvements based on need, or do you make improvements so that your curriculum and wildlife benefit?: There are good arguments for both sides of the issue. Most schools, I believe, want to create the habitat and then find curriculum connections. There are less costs involved in using the habitat "as is" (no improvements/modifications), and perhaps the use of the site will be more ingrained into the curriculum if its use evolves slowly. On the other hand, a developed outdoor classroom can be the focal point of new implemented environmental education curriculum. Either way you proceed, be sure that the site and project ties into the curriculum and helps meet the new state curriculum standards. Patti Howely, a Winfield teacher and NJ Audubon"s Bridges to the Natural World facilitator, offers the following ideas for using an outdoor classroom. Pick a site on the school grounds and get permission to allow it to go uncultivated. Allow the plants in this area to grow freely. It should become a natural community of grasses and wildflowers. Use KWL sheet (what we Know, what we Want to learn, and what we Learned) with the children. Have them observe the site, write what they see and then fill in what they would like to know and what new things they learned in their first visit. Consistent observation is key. The plot should be examined as often as possible. Students can keep a journal or use photography to record changes. Keep a chart with changes and dates in the classroom. Take a workshop The use and creation of an outdoor classroom should be viewed first and foremost as a learning experience; your education is evolving too. It is highly recommended that you begin by taking a Bridges or WILD or PLT Workshop. The Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife also offers WILD School Sites worships. These 6-hour workshops provide a wealth of resources, insights, and ideas on how to get started as well as the rudiments of a network you can call on as hour project progresses. Your site is unique Just as you and your students are individuals, your site has its own strengths and limitations. Work with your strengths. Don't expect to recreate a project another school has done. There is no one right way to undertake a schoolyard habitat project; go for what seems to make sense with your faculty, administration, students, parents, and environment. Develop your planning team If you take a project on by yourself, set up a solid framework in case you leaves. A team of teachers is the recommended framework. The support of the administration, custodial staff, selected parents and other community members and sudent involvement is critical. Make the process democratic and inclusive; it may go in a direction you didn't expect. Let your students do the research What plants attract butterflies? It is okay if you don't know but let your students get on the internet or go to the library to research the requirements. Their learning is a lot more important than the actual habitat itself. Let teams of students do the design for the project, write letters requesting donations, make a presentation to the School Board or other group, etc. Enlist the help of specialists The Coalition for Schoolyard Habitat has a newly-formed corps of mentors waiting for a phone call to help. Mentors have been asked to sign on to provide advice on planting, design, curriculum connections, team building, and other aspects of the school yard habitat. You need to demonstrate that you have taken the initial steps to attend a workshop, enlist a team and connect to the curriculum. To contact a mentor, call me 908.737.4125. Experts are great resources. Money isn't everything (but it sure does help) Money to implement projects is always cited as a barrier to move forward. There are several guaranteed sources of funding and many easy-to-obtain ones as well. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provides up to $2,500 in matching funds for schoolyard habitat projects. Some projects flounder not for lack of money but lack of commitment and community support. Sometimes it is easier to gee the money than the support and assistance to use. it. Stay connected The Coalition for Schoolyard Habitat is devoted to networking. Through the mentoring program, we are trying to build more links. Our events like the workshop in March at Pocono Environmental Education Center help to strengthen information channels. Contact me if you are not part of the coalition but would like to receive our notices. Also, check out: www.americanbirding.org, www.nwf.org, www.garden.org, www.gbr.org for more information. Contacts For more information about the New Jersey Coalition for School Yard Habitats, please contact: Monique Baron Phone: 732.932.8031 Fax: 732.932.6837 email: baron@aesop.rutgers.edu Regional Coordinators: North Jersey: Lisa Leal Greater Newark Conservancy 973.642.4646 Central Jersey: Hazel England Somerset County Environmental Education Center 908.766.2489 Lisa M. Kasabach Isles, Inc. 609.393.5656 Ext. 20 South Jersey: Barbary Fieldler Galloway Township Recycling Coordinator 609.652.9265


Copyright 2000. Great Swamp Watershed Association.