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AWF
PARTNERSHIPS
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What is the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program?
What is an Outdoor Classroom?
What grade levels does the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program serve?
What is the Outdoor Classroom Planning Guide?
What are the benefits of participating in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program?
How do you know when you're ready to certify your Outdoor Classroom?
What steps should a school take to become a certified Outdoor Classroom school?
Who are the partners in the Outdoor Classroom program?
Who should I contact for more information about the Outdoor Classroom program?
You can also download a pdf of the  .
| What is the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program? |
The Alabama Outdoor Classroom program provides on-site assistance and support to educators, administrators, students, and community members who wish to create viable, sustained wildlife habitats and outdoor classrooms on their school grounds with the aid of trained 4-H Wildlife Steward volunteers.
To participate in the Outdoor Classroom program, a school must enroll in the program by submitting an enrollment application, follow the steps discussed below throughout the development of their outdoor classroom, and certify their outdoor classroom site through the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program.
| What is an Outdoor Classroom? |
An outdoor classroom site is an outdoor area (or areas) on the school grounds that provides hands-on, outdoor learning opportunities and allows students of all ages to utilize multiple-disciplinary skills including math, science, history, geography, and the language arts in a fun and exciting environment.
An outdoor classroom site is designed to attract wildlife by providing elements crucial to wildlife survival including food, water, cover from predators, and places to raise young.
Outdoor classrooms can include raised bed gardens, vegetable gardens, herb gardens, butterfly gardens, wildflower meadows, theme gardens, forest communities, aquatic studies areas, ponds, bog gardens, courtyards, nature trails, animal tracking boxes, weather stations, and a variety of other components that provide hands-on learning opportunities for students.
| What grade levels does the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program serve? |
All students in grades K-12.
| What IS THE OUTDOOR CLASSROOM PLANNING GUIDE? |
The Outdoor Classroom Planning Guide includes valuable information about how to get started, form a planning committee, evaluate your campus, create a master plan, write grants, and how to create a sustainable and effective outdoor classroom site. It also includes helpful project ideas and instructions.
| What are the benefits of participating in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program? |
After enrolling in the program, Alabama Outdoor Classroom schools receive the following for FREE:
- Six (6) Outdoor Classroom planning guides for their planning committee.
- Technical and organizational assistance for schools and their planning committees throughout all phases of development and certification.
- Technical assistance from Vought Water Gardens to build and install an aquatic studies area in the outdoor classroom site.
- Service hours from 4-H Wildlife Steward volunteers who have been trained to assist schools with the development of outdoor classrooms.
- Tree seedlings donated by the Alabama Forestry Commission.
- In-service teacher training workshop(s) to equip teachers with cross-curriculum activities and materials that can be integrated into their daily lesson plans and used in the outdoor classroom.
- Alabama Outdoor Classroom certification including a personalized certificate recognizing your school as an official Outdoor Classroom site and an Alabama Outdoor Classroom sign to post on your school grounds.
- National Wildlife Federation's Schoolyard Habitats certification including a personalized certificate recognizing your schoolyard as an official Schoolyard Habitats site, a Schoolyard Habitats poster and a free subscription to the Habitats quarterly newsletter.
| HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE READY TO CERTIFY YOUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM? |
You are ready to certify your Outdoor Classroom after your planning committee has created a master plan and developed a site that can be used as an effective teaching tool and a wildlife habitat for local wildlife (including sources of food, water, cover, and places to raise young on the school grounds).
| What steps should a school take to become a certified Outdoor Classroom school? |
Step 1: Schedule an introductory on-site visit or Outdoor Classroom presentation to learn more about the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program. (optional)
Step 2: Obtain administrative approval for your outdoor classroom project.
Step 3: Enroll in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program by submitting the Enrollment Application along with a one-time $50.00 registration fee.
Step 4: Organize your planning committee including students, teachers, administrators, maintenance staff, parents, community members, volunteers and a 4-H Wildlife Steward volunteer if possible.
Step 5: Create a master plan including your short-term and long-term goals, budget, funding sources, site map, project and activity ideas, stages of completion, and summer maintenance plans.
Step 6: Schedule on-site visits with the Outdoor Classroom Program staff and/or a 4-H Wildlife Steward volunteer if assistance is needed.
Step 7: Follow the guidelines in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Planning Guide as you develop your outdoor classroom site.
Step 8: Schedule your free in-service teacher training workshop.
Step 9: Submit the National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitat Application for Certification to the Alabama Wildlife Federation.
Step 10: Submit the Outdoor Classroom Certification Review Form (or fill it out on-line under the Conservation Education section of AWF’s website at www.alabamawildlife.org) and schedule your on-site review.
Step 11: Upon approval, hold an official Dedication Ceremony for your Outdoor Classroom.
Step 12: Post your official Alabama Outdoor Classroom sign on your school grounds, and display your Alabama Outdoor Classroom certificate and your National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats® certificate in your school.
| Who are the partners in the Outdoor Classroom program? |
- The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) partnered together in 1997 to create the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program, which is patterned after National Wildlife Federation’s Schoolyard Habitatsâ program.
- AWF created an Outdoor Classroom/Schoolyard Habitat planning guide with the financial assistance of the Alabama Power Foundation and technical assistance from the Georgia Wildlife Federation.
- Each year the Alabama Forestry Commission donates free seedlings to schools who are enrolled in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program. OC staff and volunteers deliver approximately 30,000 seedlings each year.
- In 2004, AWF and ADCNR partnered with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) to bring Oregon State University Extension Service’s 4-H Wildlife Stewards to Alabama to train volunteers to assist schools with the development of effective, sustainable outdoor classrooms.
- Most recently, in a new partnership with the North American Water Gardening Society’s Ponds for Kids program, schools enrolled in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom program receive free technical assistance from Lee Vought with Vought Water Gardens to develop and install their water garden, which provides hands-on learning opportunities about aquatic ecosystems and wildlife.
| Who should I contact for more information about the Outdoor Classroom program? |
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