Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Las Cruces Public Schools is donating $ 10,000 to the Monte Vista Elementary to build the first outdoor classroom

LAS CRUCES – Monte Vista Elementary School will be the first school in Las Cruces Public Schools to build an outdoor classroom.

Robbi Berry’s fifth grade students applied for an outdoor classroom with the district in early September, and LCPS Superintendent Ralph Ramos decided to donate $ 10,000 to the project.

Outdoor classrooms are designed to provide hands-on learning in a more stimulating environment than the average classroom.

The news coincides with the first annual outdoor study week, September 27 through October 1, launched by the passage of the Senate Memorial 1 Task Force to Promote the Outdoor Classroom.

Education:Gadsden’s Mesquite Elementary was named a National Blue Ribbon – one of the highest accolades a school can receive

During the 2020-21 school year, Berry’s class testified before the State Senate in support of outdoor classrooms. The memorial designed by the students called for a working group to investigate learning spaces in predominantly prefabricated outdoor areas. The legislature passed the memorial on February 24, 2021.

The legislation was launched by the Wild Friends Program, a civics program at the University of New Mexico School of Law that gives young students the opportunity to try their hand at drafting legal documents on wilderness topics for the past 30 years. Berry has been with Wild Friends for three years and says she is now seeing real change in her own school.

The $ 10,000 LCPS provided could be used for a shade structure, seating, permanent whiteboard, and tool shed, all of which are common in outdoor classrooms.

Wild Friends spokeswoman Stephanie Haan-Amato said it was rare for districts to allocate funds for outdoor classrooms.

The project is still in its early stages and the students in Berry’s class will be working on a design and prototype over the next few weeks.

Berry students hope their success and space for healthy and engaging outdoor learning will set an example for schools across New Mexico.

Comments are closed.