The indoor classroom is a safe and proven place for reading, writing, and arithmetic to occur. But it doesn't have to be the only place where learning takes place, especially because children's growing bodies require much movement and some students learn better through movement. That's where outdoor education sites enter the picture - parks, amphitheaters, outdoor classrooms, and more.

The benefits of learning about the outdoors in the outdoors are numerous and rich. "Outdoor education can encompass many subjects and varied styles of learning," says author Phyllis M. Ford in an article titled Outdoor Education: Definition and Philosophy. "Through exposure to environmental awareness techniques, the right-brained learner can profit. Through learning ecological principles, the left-brained learner can benefit, and through combining the two, all children can acquire a holistic look at the subject utilizing learning styles of both hemispheres." (http://www.ericdigests.org/pre-923/outdoor.htm)

With the benefits of outdoor education in mind, here are a variety of excellent outdoor learning venues to stimulate ideas for your next building project.

1. A Little Bit of Everything

Embracing the benefits of small school design, the Oakland Unified School District in California, located two small, autonomous schools on one small urban site in an East Oakland neighborhood. Acorn Woodland Elementary & EnCompass Academy each serves 250 K-5 students (SEE IMAGE).

The master plan organizes the exterior space into two main zones. The inner zone, defined by the two-story classroom buildings and the multi-purpose building, serves as an extension of the classroom by incorporating numerous outdoor learning environments and small tot lots for younger children. The outer zone occupies the northern half of the site, where playfields for soccer and baseball, and hardscape areas for basketball and four square, are located.

The outdoor learning environments engage the students in a multitude of ways: native trees and landscaping create various California micro-ecologies; garden plots enable hands-on observations of nature (SEE IMAGE); an amphitheater ( SEE IMAGE) supports both artistic and social development. A seamless transition between the outdoor and interior spaces is achieved through exterior porches at ground floor classrooms. Linking the classrooms and studio spaces to the outdoors through exterior landscape features encourages educators to implement a multi-faceted curriculum with hands-on indoor/outdoor learning experiences.

"The landscape lends itself to so many teaching moments, fostering empathy and honor for all living things," says Minh-Tram Nguyen, principal, EnCompass Academy. "It is a message that complements our commitment to building resiliency in our children."

The schools, totaling 75,600 sq. ft., cost $19 million. They were completed by Beverly Prior Architects, San Francisco. Landscape architect was Moore Iacofano Goltsman, Inc.

2. A Rustic Outdoor Education Center

The Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center in Michigan, is situated on 11 acres of school property adjacent to the 3,500-acre Proud Lake Michigan Recreation Area. Hiking trails, fishing, canoeing, and cross-country ski trails are all easily accessed from the center. The main function of the facility is to provide outdoor/environmental learning opportunities for Walled Lake Consolidated Schools' (WLCS) elementary students. The center may also be rented by other school districts and recognized groups when not in use by WLCS.

In 2004, voters approved a bond issue to expand and update the WLOEC building and site. New classroom space, a full renovation of existing space, and updated heating/air conditioning now make this the perfect place for school camps or organizations' retreats, as well as a conference retreat center for corporate groups.

Bloomfield Hills, Mich.-based TMP Associates designed new classroom, office and support space to allow for multiple classroom groups to use the building, as well as to provide up-to-date systems for teaching and learning. The site roads and parking were reconfigured to allow efficient bus access. Site amenities, such as rest rooms and pathway lighting, were added. The site was organized so the school district was able to install a challenge ropes course and a "yurt" for an exterior conference/seminar space that adds to the building's use.

The simple and rustic architectural image of the facility was retained and reinforced by the addition and remodeling so that the building continues to fit into its natural setting (SEE IMAGE). The enhanced facility has allowed the WLOEC to align all of its classes with district/state science and social studies standards.

"The Walled Lake Outdoor Education Center provides an ideal interface between the wild outdoor environment and the studious classroom indoors," says Stephen E. Smith, AIA, TMP senior vice president. "Students visiting the facility can experience an in-depth study of the natural world that is unavailable in any other setting in the school district."

3. A Design That Promotes a Teaching Philosophy

Administrators at Marin Montessori School in Courte Madera, Calif., were looking to renovate an existing classroom building for additional staff and administrative space, as well as add three classrooms. The completed project combines indoor and outdoor learning environments to promote the Montessori teaching philosophy.

"Each classroom is equipped with an outdoor classroom where children from different age groups rely on each other to learn," says Maia Hampson, marketing director for San Francisco-based Pfau Architecture., Ltd., which completed the renovation and addition. (SEE IMAGE) "There are decks where the students can paint, do organic gardening, and complete other activities.

"Through siting and landscaping, the children are safe to explore and learn without a gated-in feeling," says Hampson. "The design has a lot to do with the school's philosophy as well as their teaching environment." ( SEE IMAGE)

In addition, all the classrooms are equipped with lots of windows so that the students are able to look outside while they're in the classroom. It also allows teachers to keep an eye on all students when some are indoors and some are out. (SEE IMAGE)

The 12,004-sq.-ft. facility was completed in spring 2005.

4. Elementary School Boasts Agricultural Theme

When it opens this fall, Lincoln Crossing Elementary School in Western Placer Unified School District in Lincoln, Calif., will feature an extensive outdoor learning environment, including an orchard, student outdoor study veranda, and agricultural thematic interpretative court, as well as student planting areas.

Three gardens encourage outdoor learning. The Tactile Garden offers the opportunity for students to interact with various tactile sensory objects of varied textures. The Kinetic Garden contains objects that are moved by the wind and allow the students to interact with moving objects. Objects are designed so that they project patterns in shadow that change with movement. The Butterfly Garden offers the opportunity for students to create small eco-systems. Seasonal plants are selected to attract butterflies and other creatures. (SEE IMAGE)

The indoor learning environment includes a well-defined entry, wet pull-out space, small group study area, and large group instructional area. Post and beam construction reflects the agricultural theme. (SEE IMAGE)

Z-shape classrooms provide opportunities for an integrated curriculum, a well-defined entry, connection to outdoor space, control of concurrent small to large group functions, and teacher planning. (SEE IMAGE)

The project was designed by NTDStichler Architecture, San Diego.

5. The Learning Garden

The Horticultural Society of New York (HSNY) GreenBranches Program installs, programs, and maintains gardens at branch libraries in each of New York City's three systems: New York Public Library (the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island); Queens Library; and Brooklyn Public Library.

New York-based Marpillero Pollak Architects (MPA) has designed three learning gardens with GreenBranches, including the Queens Library Whitestone Branch, the Brooklyn Public Library Brooklyn Heights Branch and the Stone Avenue Branch, shown here (SEE IMAGE).  Each project dramatically transforms underutilized outdoor space into programmable areas for group activities, individual reading, and gardening programs.

The Stone Avenue library learning garden is centered on the "quilt" -  a series of planter beds of varying heights to enable many children and/or adults to work on them at the same time (SEE IMAGE). The design of the "quilt," based on a quilt in the Heritage Center of the Stone Avenue Library, weaves different colors of grasses and perennials across the grain of the planters. A trellis shade structure supports gathering and group reading.