Belvedere Elementary School is a leader in outdoor learning
The information below is from an article published in the summer 2014 edition of Virginia Parks & Recreation magazine.
Students at Belvedere Elementary School in Mason
District maintain a garden on raised beds, an adopted trail, and decomposition and
lifecycle gardens. They remove invasive plants and replace them with native
plants. They share food they raise with a local shelter, and they’re starting a
seedling nursery.
District maintain a garden on raised beds, an adopted trail, and decomposition and
lifecycle gardens. They remove invasive plants and replace them with native
plants. They share food they raise with a local shelter, and they’re starting a
seedling nursery.
Many elementary schools do some sort of outdoor
gardening, but Belvedere has done a whole lot more.
gardening, but Belvedere has done a whole lot more.
Three years ago, Belvedere Elementary adopted
Belvedere park at the corner of Columbia Pike and Sleepy Hollow Road as part of
a partnership with the Fairfax County Park Authority. In 2013,
Belvedere created an outdoor classroom in the school’s courtyard. And about two
dozen organizations, including the Park Authority, the Friends of Huntley
Meadows Park, and Hidden Oaks Nature Center are partners in
Belvedere’s Going Green initiative.
Before the school adopted Belvedere Park, many
staff members didn’t realize there was a park next door that could be used to
enhance the school’s education program, says Belvedere’s environmental
educator, Stacey Evers. Park Manager Richard Maple helped Evers design a trail
from the school’s field into the heart of the open space, and school volunteers
built the trail, Evers writes in the GreenBelvedere blog.
staff members didn’t realize there was a park next door that could be used to
enhance the school’s education program, says Belvedere’s environmental
educator, Stacey Evers. Park Manager Richard Maple helped Evers design a trail
from the school’s field into the heart of the open space, and school volunteers
built the trail, Evers writes in the GreenBelvedere blog.
Erin Stockschlaeder, the Invasive Management Area coordinator for the Park Authority, works with Evers and students to remove
invasives and plant native species. Last year, students collected acorns, which
they will cultivate on school property. When the oaks are big enough, the
students will plant them in the park.
invasives and plant native species. Last year, students collected acorns, which
they will cultivate on school property. When the oaks are big enough, the
students will plant them in the park.
This spring, Belvedere students planted a dozen
new native trees on school grounds donated by the Urban Forest Management Division in the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
new native trees on school grounds donated by the Urban Forest Management Division in the county’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.
These projects help students learn about nature and the
responsibilities of stewardship, while the improvements they make will benefit
the county and residents for many years.
responsibilities of stewardship, while the improvements they make will benefit
the county and residents for many years.
4 responses to “Belvedere Elementary School is a leader in outdoor learning”
Leave a reply
How EXCELLENT! They are teaching them about nature,the environment and doing good for others all at the same time.This is how I like to see our taxpayer money put to work.Way to go Belvedere!! Keep up the great work!! What an investment their the future! .:-)
I had no idea! Wonderful news.
They should teach them not to cut down trees like broccoli heads.
Are they going to remove all the poison ivy in there?