OUTDOOR CLASSROOM
The Outdoor Classroom: We’re Growing Greatly at the Grove!
Did you know we have almost 20 acres of land at Shady Grove? With all that land comes a lot of opportunity to explore and learn in the “outdoor classroom.” The following are some of the programs offered at SGES.
All about Butterflies
Each year, kindergarteners release their butterflies into our very own butterfly garden located in the garden outside the Library where the entire school enjoys its beauty. The garden needs care throughout the year from cleaning up, weeding, removing dead leaves to mulching and ensuring it is watered during summer.
The Cardinal Café – Birds Only!
We are seeking a leader to coordinate this program with a group of kids or to lend a hand to participating teachers. Young adults are welcome to volunteer. Feeders are placed in the windows around the school, cleaned and maintained by the group and enjoyed by all! Seeds are provided by PTA and the feeders have to be refilled biweekly. We are also looking for donations of birdfeeders and/or bird houses. If you and your family or friends are interested in “adopting” a bird feeder or a few, please contact us to discuss the details of caring for the birds.
Did you know we have almost 20 acres of land at Shady Grove? With all that land comes a lot of opportunity to explore and learn in the “outdoor classroom.” The following are some of the programs offered at SGES.
All about Butterflies
Each year, kindergarteners release their butterflies into our very own butterfly garden located in the garden outside the Library where the entire school enjoys its beauty. The garden needs care throughout the year from cleaning up, weeding, removing dead leaves to mulching and ensuring it is watered during summer.
The Cardinal Café – Birds Only!
We are seeking a leader to coordinate this program with a group of kids or to lend a hand to participating teachers. Young adults are welcome to volunteer. Feeders are placed in the windows around the school, cleaned and maintained by the group and enjoyed by all! Seeds are provided by PTA and the feeders have to be refilled biweekly. We are also looking for donations of birdfeeders and/or bird houses. If you and your family or friends are interested in “adopting” a bird feeder or a few, please contact us to discuss the details of caring for the birds.
Journey North
In this international science experiment, students in hundreds of classrooms throughout the world plant the same tulip bulb variety. All Journey North gardens must be planted with NEW Red Emperor tulip bulbs. When the tulips emerge and bloom, the students post their findings on the interactive maps, learning how seasonal climatic factors influence plant growth. “The relationship between geography, temperature and the arrival of Spring is revealed one garden at a time.” - visit the Journey North website for more info. Each year, kindergarteners plant tulips in late October/early November. We are always looking for volunteers at that time of the year to help us prepare the gardening area and plant the tulips.
In this international science experiment, students in hundreds of classrooms throughout the world plant the same tulip bulb variety. All Journey North gardens must be planted with NEW Red Emperor tulip bulbs. When the tulips emerge and bloom, the students post their findings on the interactive maps, learning how seasonal climatic factors influence plant growth. “The relationship between geography, temperature and the arrival of Spring is revealed one garden at a time.” - visit the Journey North website for more info. Each year, kindergarteners plant tulips in late October/early November. We are always looking for volunteers at that time of the year to help us prepare the gardening area and plant the tulips.
Edible Garden
Involving children in the food growing process helps them understand the work that it takes to grow crop and the time it takes for the crop to start developing. It also teaches our students where their food comes from and encourages them to try new food experiences, tastes and textures. The students get to experience and learn about agriculture; they have a chance to see and touch produce that they see within books or on television, and they learn about resources, production, picking as well as usage or sale.
What a crop we had last Spring! Peas, carrots and potatoes were a thrill to plant! Thanks to our lovely volunteers, we had several bags of potatoes and carrots that were donated to a Food Bank.
Our new second grade raised vegetable garden is a welcome addition to SGES. The planters were built by SGES cardinals’ parents. The garden is located outside the cafeteria in the back of the school. In the early spring, second graders will also crate a Three Sisters Native American Garden.
We will be sending information to parents with children in the applicable grades during planting and picking season.
Involving children in the food growing process helps them understand the work that it takes to grow crop and the time it takes for the crop to start developing. It also teaches our students where their food comes from and encourages them to try new food experiences, tastes and textures. The students get to experience and learn about agriculture; they have a chance to see and touch produce that they see within books or on television, and they learn about resources, production, picking as well as usage or sale.
What a crop we had last Spring! Peas, carrots and potatoes were a thrill to plant! Thanks to our lovely volunteers, we had several bags of potatoes and carrots that were donated to a Food Bank.
Our new second grade raised vegetable garden is a welcome addition to SGES. The planters were built by SGES cardinals’ parents. The garden is located outside the cafeteria in the back of the school. In the early spring, second graders will also crate a Three Sisters Native American Garden.
We will be sending information to parents with children in the applicable grades during planting and picking season.
SGES Marquee
Our school marquee has been adopted by the Wyndham Garden Club again this year. This garden is too close to the street for us to maintain it with the children, so their caretaking is very valuable to us!
Materials
A great garden requires lots of helpers! If you don’t mind a little dirt and you love to work with kids in a great hands-on, outdoor setting, then we are looking for you! Contact Dena Roberts or Vanessa Van Slyck to get involved. In addition, we could always use some angel donors to provide a flat of flowers, mulch, new tools, shrubs and/or landscaping expertise.
Our school marquee has been adopted by the Wyndham Garden Club again this year. This garden is too close to the street for us to maintain it with the children, so their caretaking is very valuable to us!
Materials
A great garden requires lots of helpers! If you don’t mind a little dirt and you love to work with kids in a great hands-on, outdoor setting, then we are looking for you! Contact Dena Roberts or Vanessa Van Slyck to get involved. In addition, we could always use some angel donors to provide a flat of flowers, mulch, new tools, shrubs and/or landscaping expertise.
