Davis Elementary School Outdoor learning and nature play meadows and woodland

At first we envisioned something smaller, similar to the scope of our project at Gullett Elementary. But after it was brought to the PTA and initial interest was shown, we scaled the project up. Instead of just working on the kindergarten area, we would expand into the unused field beyond; an acre in total. We designed a small park that included multiple outdoor classrooms, nature play areas, winding ADA compliant-paths for walking, jogging, and playing. We also included a “farm” area with space for veggie beds and chickens that were already on-campus, as well as an orchard with temporary automatic irrigation. All this inside seeded meadows and a new woodland area with 100 newly-planted trees covering nearly 1/3 acre of the site.

All from seed.

Seed heads of bee balm overlap native grasses and Salvia farinacea

One of the outdoor classrooms uses stumps as seats and is set inside the woodland area. Cedar Elms, Live Oaks, and Chinquapin Oaks are under-planted with native understory trees like Yaupon Holly and Texas Persimmon. In a few years, the meadow will give way to shade-tolerant species like fragrant mistflower and American Beautyberry, which will spread from the shady fence line where we planted them.

We installed nature play areas like this boulder path through an island of native turf grasses (Buffalo grass and Blue Grama). But other volunteers have already added to the fun! An eagle scout made an obstacle course of balance beams and stump-steps.

There’s lots of room for future projects too. This summer a Davis dad is building a fence around the “farm” and an enclosure for the chicken coops. Soon there will be veggie beds, chickens, and fenced-in play space.

The orchard will provide peaches, apples (an early-ripening variety from Israel), and figs. But the main function of the orchard is to screen the busy road behind. In a few years the noise and air pollution will be dampened, and children can refocus on the sights, sounds, and smells of the nature surrounding them.

The Meadow is developing well in its first year, with a variety of plants covering the acre of land we developed.

And Davis is now a Certified Schoolyard Habitat! The National Wildlife Federation defines this as “a place of learning and nature exploration for students and a haven for wildlife”.