Principal Rick Schneider, AIA, LEED AP, presents case studies in design for outdoor education at CitiesAlive 2018 in Brooklyn, NY. He is joined by co-presenters Sally Parker, DCPS Sustainability Liaison and Sam Ullery, School Gardens Coordinator with DC OSSE. “Cities around the country expect architects to design the schools of the future. Plans for 21st century schools don’t often look like the plans of the past – they are healthy, green, and resilient.
DC Public Schools and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education are creating outdoor learning environments to expand learning beyond the 'data dump' of traditional classroom instruction. School gardens and green spaces are a key component, reflecting both the school community and surrounding community. These spaces ensure all students, including those with special needs, have opportunities to learn outdoors and connect with nature.
Curriculum gardens paired with outdoor classrooms and teaching kitchens offer a unique Field to Table learning opportunity. Students grow and prepare their own food, learning about personal health and environmental stewardship. These places promote healthy living and stronger neighborhoods – the building blocks of a healthy city.
In this session Rick, Sally, + Sam talk about garden classrooms that are actively integrated into the curriculum and the part sustainable facilities play in equitable design, community resilience, and green infrastructure.”
The presentation titled Garden Classrooms: Field to Table in School, with DC-based case studies including the Tubman Garden project, will be on Wednesday the 26th.