Siwanoy Outdoor Classroom Receives Grant

From Pelham Schools: Senator Jeff Klein announced $150,000 for the Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom at Siwanoy Elementary School in Pelham Manor, New York. The announcement took place at the annual Siwanoy “Spring Fling” held at the school on Friday evening, June 1st , for parents and students. Senator Klein was hosted by Principal Susan Gilbert and joined by members of the Pelham community, including families, local organizations and businesses, who raised an additional $133,000 for the project through donations, the Pelham Education Foundation, the Race for Education, and Siwanoy’s “Buy a Brick” campaign.

“I’m so proud to have secured the funds for Siwanoy’s Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. It is truly a pleasure to contribute to such a wonderful project, and to bring this extraordinary learning experience to the children in our community.” “The Siwanoy Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom would not be possible without Senator Jeff Klein,” said Siwanoy Principal Susan Gilbert. “His support and generosity will bring our children outside to experience nature-related learning that develops observation and problem-solving skills, science and math abilities, imagination, and creativity.” The budget for Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom is $257,155 including architectural fees, furnishings, maintenance, training and program costs. The $150,000 grant provided by Senator Klein, will be used for construction costs to break-ground in the Fall of 2018,
making this project a reality.

Westchester architect Michael Molinelli created the design, which preserves neighborhood views and vistas, and features a stage and student gathering area, music and movement areas, art panels, raised garden beds for classroom plantings, a butterfly cycle garden and a weather station.

The concept plan for Siwanoy’s Outdoor Classroom was created by Nature Explore, a nonprofit program that provides research-based design services and educator workshops. This plan incorporates field-tested design principles that have been used in hundreds of Nature Explore Outdoor Classrooms across the country. New research shows that schools that use outdoor classrooms and other forms of nature- based experiential education can result in significant student gains in social studies, science, language arts, and math. Children are more likely to invent their own games in green play spaces than they are on flat cement or playing fields. The Outdoor Classroom environment also promotes social inclusion, regardless of gender, race, class, or intellectual ability, and is ADA accessible.

Siwanoy teachers will participate in ongoing Nature Explore workshops that offer in-depth training on the latest field-tested, age-appropriate methods for delivering the curriculum while reconnecting students to nature. The entire Pelham community will have access to the Outdoor Classroom through afterschool and camp programs, scouting programs, middle and high school volunteer opportunities and Nature Explore workshops for adults.

Image Via Pelham Schools