After two years of careful planning and extensive fundraising, École Elmwood School in Altona has finally broken ground on the first phase of its outdoor classroom project.
This initiative, led by principal Scott Hiebert, aims to address the school’s need for shaded spaces on the schoolyard, encouraging outdoor learning and fostering a vibrant educational environment.
“The shelter is phase one of the project. The other pieces of the project are to plant a lot more native trees and plant species,” explains Hiebert. “We want to create a bit of a forest on the schoolyard. We have already added a much larger sand play area than the one we had. The old one was falling apart, and with the grant dollars we were able to put in a much larger and deeper sand play area which has been an extremely popular place for the kids so far.”
Hiebert says the footprint of the outdoor classroom will be 32 ft. by 32 ft. once the roof is finished.
The original plan was to have the structure completed over the summer and ready for the fall.
“But we experienced some delays as construction projects sometimes do. And so, at this point, we are still optimistic that we can get the concrete pad completed before winter really sets in. And then the completion of the roof may need to wait until spring.”
Hiebert says the teachers are already visualizing holding classes in the space.
“One of our key hopes is that teachers can use the space to work outside with the students through any season. The early years curriculum lends itself well to taking classroom time outside. But it is helpful to have a place where some of the activities you would normally do in the classroom are just a little bit easier. And then you can explore the schoolyard to support the curriculum that you’re doing.”
Hiebert emphasized the importance of year-round use of the structure, envisioning outdoor learning taking place even in winter months thanks to its adaptable design.
Beyond the school community, he sees a broader impact.
“Our outdoor space won’t just benefit our school; it’s intended to be a central point for various outdoor school functions, serving as a park for the surrounding neighborhood after school hours and throughout the summer.”
The project is estimated to cost close to $100,000, made possible through the joint efforts of Elmwood’s Home and School Association, local businesses, and a grant from the province’s Building Sustainable Communities Fund.
Hiebert adds that corporate sponsors, including Elmer’s Manufacturing, Friesens, Access Credit Union, and Altona Farm Service, have also played a pivotal role in making this initiative a reality.
