September 2013
The Learning Garden has completed a major milestone by finishing the first phase of the Outdoor Lessons area in our learning garden. This 20 foot diameter, outdoor patio will provide our school community with a defined outdoor lessons space as an additional teaching and learning resource. The learning circle was designed with key features that allow for sensory experiences through texture, shapes and color and can be used to by our entire school community.
This project is an example of great community support for our children and could not have happened without the significant support from the following:
- Home Depot for donating most of the materials to complete the project. A special thanks goes to the Fairfax Circle Home Depot store team who volunteered to support the installation of the patio.
- McLean Hardware for their continued support by providing donated materials and recycled products
- Sunbelt Rentals for providing the equipment needed to cut the pavers
- Franklin Sherman parents and students who came out and worked so hard to make it all happen. A special thanks goes to the Forde family for their commitment to this project and for their repeated, ongoing support to the learning garden effort.
Before:
After:
Our next phases in the Outdoor Lessons area include:
- Sitting Boulders– Surrounding the learning circle with boulders to be used for seating for children
- Entrance Arbor – An arbor that will provide an entrance into the learning circle
Upcoming Projects
- Developing the Butterfly Garden and Humming Bird Gardens - We are looking to create a plans to incorporate different elements for these two gardens
- Learning Garden Paths - We are looking for a group or organization who is interested in creating pathways in the garden by replacing existing grass with proper pathway materials
The goals of the learning garden are to provide a resource for outside learning, stimulate curiosity about nature and life cycles, and expose students to the concepts of natural resources and community development. We hope that the additional benefits from our garden are limitless!
The Learning Garden Co-Chairs
Emily Hattwick and Pat McGovern
