1 Collect Info | 2 Organize Committee | 3 Enroll | 4 Evaluate Campus | 5 Develop Master Plan | 6 Obtain Funding | 7 Construct OC | 8 Integrate Curriculum | 9 Establish Maintenance Plan | 10 Certify
Step 4: EVALUATE YOUR CAMPUS (Click Here for PDF)
School Campus Map
Get a copy of the school campus map from the administrator or school system office that you can easily edit and on which you can include your site evaluation notes. The map should include the following:
- Buildings, sidewalks, parking lots, athletic fields, playgrounds, and retention ponds;
- Utility lines such as gas, electricity, water, sewer, phone, cable, drainage, or sprinklers;
- Paved roads, walkways and traffic patterns including cars, bikes, pedestrians, and delivery vehicles;
- Neighboring properties or roads; and
- Future building sites that need to be avoided.
Set up a meeting with your local Outdoor Classroom Consultant and your planning committee to evaluate your campus. This should be scheduled after organizing your planning committee and enrolling in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program. Also, invite your local Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) Agent to assist with the evaluation if s/he is available. Provide copies of the Site Evaluation Checklist for all planning committee members to use during the site evaluation.
Note the following on your Site Evaluation Checklist:
- Classroom Seating such as a gazebo, pavilion, amphitheater, outdoor stage or benches
- Raised Bed Gardens such as vegetable/herb gardens, butterfly gardens, or other themed gardens
- Aquatic Study Areas such as a fish pond, frog pond, wetland, stream, or bog garden
- Natural Areas such as a forest or meadow
- Nature Trail such as a path through the woods.
> Wildlife Habitat – Assess the habitat (food, water, shelter & places to raise young) available for backyard wildlife. (See the Schoolyard Wildlife Habitat Tips.)
> Electricity Sources – Look for electrical outlets in case you need access to electricity for an activity or a learning station (such as the pump on a backyard pond).
> Soil Quality & Soil Type – Contact your county Extension office or garden supply center for information and tools on how to conduct a soil test to help you determine your soil type and the species of plants and trees that can grow in your outdoor classroom site.
> Watershed – Map the watershed around your school including where run-off from buildings and paved areas collect and which areas drain quickly or are very dry. Research the rivers and watersheds near you using the Auburn University Water Resources Center website at http://aaes.auburn.edu/wrc/resource/rivers-of-alabama/.
> Topography – Note the elevation and slope. For example, hills and rises may provide a good location for an amphitheater, but may not be easily accessible; whereas, low areas may collect water and remain “mucky,” making them ideal for an artificial wetland or rain garden. When building a nature trail on a slope, consider creating a trail that winds left and right with switchbacks to minimize the slope for wheelchairs and to reduce potential erosion.
> Geology – Research the geological characteristics found in your county; and, if possible, collect and identify different types of rocks around your school grounds.
> Wind Direction – If needed, plant evergreens to help protect your outdoor classroom area from potentially high winds, keeping in mind that the weather systems typically travel from west to east across Alabama.
> Foot Traffic – Note any areas that contain foot paths utilized by students, teachers, and the community, and consider formalizing the path with a walkway to direct the traffic through the outdoor classroom site without disturbing it.
> Safety Hazards – Check for any nearby hazards or safety concerns such as poison ivy, wasp nests, or busy streets around your outdoor classroom.
> Litter & Vandalism Issues – Identify any potential sources for litter or vandalism around your outdoor classroom site. (Review the Vandalism Reduction Tips.)
> Low Maintenance – Choose and design your outdoor classroom with minimal maintenance needs in mind. Remember, planting native plants and trees will reduce your watering responsibilities.
> Non-native, Invasive Plants – If possible, identify and removall non-native, invasive plants and replace them with natives. (Contact your local Alabama Cooperative Extension System office for free assistance with the identification of non-native plants.)
> Neighbors – Note the land use on adjacent properties. Neighbors who also manage their property for wildlife can be beneficial, whereas businesses and streets may create danger zones and/or loud noise. Consider planting a line of evergreens such as American or yaupon hollies to create a natural fence-line if needed.
Choose your Outdoor Classroom Site(s)
After reviewing your potential outdoor classroom sites, your local Outdoor Classroom Consultant will help you determine which site(s) would provide the best outdoor classroom location.Try to choose one central location for your outdoor classroom site instead of having the outdoor learning stations spread out over your campus. After filling out your Site Evaluation Form, mark the location of the potential outdoor classroom site(s) you hope to develop on your campus map.
Site Approval Form
Once an outdoor classroom site is chosen, your local Outdoor Classroom Consultant will submit a Site Approval Form and Google Earth map of the site. These must be reviewed and signed by your principal and your school system’s Buildings and Maintenance Supervisor to verify where any underground hazards or utility lines are located so the utilities can be marked on the outdoor classroom schematic and avoided during the construction phase.
Questions? Contact April Waltz, Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program Coordinator, at aprilwaltz@alabamawildlife.org.