Check out the 2014-2015 application for the Growing Outdoor Classrooms Pilot project!
The goal of this three year project is to create 15 model schools that integrate outdoor learning and garden based education in a holistic way across academic content areas. Ten down, five to go!
This spring, GROW will be accepting applications for Year 3 of the Growing Outdoor Classroom Program.
By submitting an application, your school, if selected, is committing to fully participate in the Growing Outdoor Classrooms Program. This year-long program begins May 2014. All schools will be expected to have completed their outdoor classrooms by June 2015. Any public elementary and middle school in Dane County is eligible to apply. Applications are due April 11, 2014 by 5:00 p.m.
GOCP 2014 Application (Download MS Word file)
Program Nuts and Bolts:
In May 2014, 5 schools from Dane County will be selected to participate in Year 3 of the Growing Outdoor Classrooms Program to:
- Create or further develop their outdoor classroom; and
- Engage and educate their colleagues and community about the connections between learning, outdoor classrooms and sustainability.
Commitment:
Specifically, each participating school will:
- With the technical support of the GROW Coalition, create or further develop an outdoor classroom through crafting and executing:
- An outdoor classroom design;
- A plan to facilitate faculty and staff use of the outdoor classroom to teach academic content;
- A community engagement plan;
- An outdoor classroom build event(s).
- Share their knowledge and skills regarding outdoor learning with their colleagues a minimum of one time during the school year during, for example, at a staff meeting or during Professional Collaboration Time.
- Implement 1 other sustainability project at the school, in support of the themes addressed in the outdoor classroom.
- Send 2 representatives to monthly 2-hour sessions on outdoor classrooms and sustainability. One of those attendees must be a teacher. School representation is required at 7 of the 8 sessions.
- Send 2 Green Team members to a 20-hour garden-based learning Summer Institute during the week of July 28- July 31, 2014. One of those attendees must be a teacher.
- Actively communicate with the school and broader community about the Growing Outdoor Classrooms Program (for example, through e-mails, Facebook, newsletter articles, press releases).
Support:
In return for the commitment of each school to the goals and outcomes of this program, each school will receive the following:
- Support to create or enhance their outdoor classroom design.
- A facilitated workshop to develop a Community Engagement Plan.
- Substantial material assistance ($8,000 value) for the outdoor classroom.
- Monthly educational and networking events, called Sustainability Sessions, addressing outdoor classrooms, learning and sustainability.
- A one-week garden-based learning Summer Institute scheduled for July 29-July 31, 2014 for 2 Green Team members.
- On-going support from the GROW Coalition.
Questions?
Julie Jarvis (Sustain Dane) julie@sustaindane.org / 608.819.0689
Nicole Nelson (Madison Metropolitan School District) nmnelson@madison.k12.wi.us / 608.663.5208
Madison Area GROW Coalition 