So much of life in Squamish is outside, so it seems natural to make the outdoors a learning environment.
This is the approach of École Squamish Elementary, which has applied to TD Bank Financial Group for a grant to develop space behind its library into an outdoor classroom.
Organizers say the front of the school is noted for being mostly asphalt and provides a first impression to downtown Squamish for many.
The idea, however, is not simply to beautify the site but to offer students green space for outdoor lessons or inquiry projects.
Parents got behind the idea. One factor was that unlike other local schools located next to nature or trails, the school does not have natural space in its backyard.
“The school is quite unique in that situation, right in the middle of Squamish,” parent Kate O’Connor said.
The school has even tapped into the skills of parents, which include a landscape architect and a horticulturist, to help with the project.
Currently, there are plant boxes in the front of the school, which add green elements to the environment, but they are not self-sustaining and need someone to care for them.
Last month, representatives from the school received support from the School District No. 48 board of education for the application to TD.
“We want to do something with intent and purpose that’s well thought out and sustainable,” says principal Rose McKenzie. “When you rely on green boxes, it’s labour-intensive.”
In response, the school and the parents set up a “greening committee” for the project.
“We got input from everyone: parents, teachers, students,” McKenzie said.
Many teachers saw the need to develop the back of the property, so the site planned is located right behind the library and will include shade to provide cover from the rain or sun. The school is also exploring the idea of how to extend the library with some kind of atrium to provide more of a transition between the school and the outdoors.
“It’s so great for young kids to have multi-sensory learning,” O’Connor said. “We wanted to bring something like this to the school.”
The students will be a part of the process the whole time.
“We’d like to have the students involved in actually building the classroom,” she added.
Plans may also include planting native trees and shrubs, as well as adding First Nations influence, and the school might also work with the district’s Cultural Journeys program.
Another reason for the outdoor class is to encourage play as a learning tool, which fits in with the school district’s goals, or “learning pathways.”
“One of our pathways [to learning] is play and exploration, so that’s something we’re very mindful of,” McKenzie said.
The school community sees the plan as a multi-phase project, with the first phase focusing on the area behind the school. Future work could focus on the front of the school property, with perhaps some of the asphalt being replaced by green space.
The project is estimated to cost $74,216, including installation. The school has submitted an expression of interest and should find out from TD whether the plan goes beyond the expression of interest phase in a matter of days. It would have to submit a formal proposal by mid-November, with a decision slated for February.
If the grant proposal is successful, the idea is to implement the plan during the year. If not, the school is looking at other options for grants to help with the project
