Creating Outdoor Classrooms: Schoolyard Habitats and Gardens for the Southwest

Preface

Preface Natural environments are important for people of all ages, but especially for children. Wild places provide young people with opportunities to discover natural phenomena like those described by Mark Twain. Brilliant colors held within streams of sunlight; rainwater creating miniature drainageways in the mud; wind permanently bending trees; ant highways; and the endless sights, sounds, and tastes of the natural world are mysteries of life that have inspired civilizations throughout the ages. This book is a general guide for the design and implementation of natural outdoor classrooms envisioned to include a variety of learning opportunities through the creation of wildlife habitats and other gardens, including art gardens, cultural history gardens, ecological gardens, vegetable gardens, and literacy gardens. As such, the text is intended as a sourcebook that includes sections on the history of garden styles, design fundamentals and processes, and information and ideas to provide readers with inspiration for their own unique garden creations. Focus is given to the Southwest—its natural and cultural history, arid land and climate, plants, and wildlife. But the content of this text can be applied in the creation of gardens for other regions, whether these focus on wildlife, art, culture or history, integrated learning, or simply delight and contemplation. Because the parameters of all outdoor classrooms and other types of landscapes are unique, the design and implementation of any project will necessarily involve additional research and certainly modification of this information. Use this book as a touchstone reference and a point of departure, and be inspired to work collaboratively, particularly with children and youth, as their creative ideas are limitless. Be prepared to think of your garden project as a temporal place that will always evolve through time, as natural processes are dynamic and learning about the environment is interactive. Now, far away in the woods a bird called; another answered; presently the hammering of a woodpecker was heard. Gradually the cool dim gray morning whitened, and as gradually sounds multiplied and life manifested itself. The marvel of Nature shaking off sleep and going to work unfolded itself to the musing boy. A little green worm came crawling over a dewy leaf, lifting two-thirds of his body into the air from time to time and “sniffing around,” then proceeding again—for he was ­measuring . . . Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK ...