Developing an Outdoor Classroom at a Palm Beach County Middle School

In June of 2013, a project at Jupiter Middle School was initiated to develop an outdoor
science classroom. The 2.25-acre natural area and certified wetland is located on the school
campus. The property is being developed to provide authentic multisensory hands-on learning
for students at Jupiter Middle School. The lessons will focus on providing multifaceted
understanding in the areas of ecology, conservation, weather, cycles in nature, as well as respect
for nature. These learning opportunities will be designed with the additional objective that the
students have an opportunity to develop real-life science inquiry and problem solving skills
leading toward self-sufficiency and confidence.
An outdoor classroom is a natural area which is set aside or developed for students to practice
skills related to field studies and to learn about the interactions of species within ecosystems
through hands on multisensory experiences. These areas are also referred to as schoolyard
habitats or habitat restoration projects. There is compelling evidence that this type of place based
environmental learning will be beneficial to middle school students socially, academically, and
behaviorally Bell et al., 2009; Berman, 2008; Cole & Hall, 2010; Dillon, et al., 2006; Ernst &
Monroe, 2006; Kaplan, 1995; Louv, 2008; Smith & Sobel, 2010; Wheeler & Thumlert, 2007.