LEARNING LANDSCAPES

The Ultimate Outdoor School Makeover

CEFPI Southwest

Region Annual

Conference

Denver, CO

May 10, 2012

Carol Henry, PLA, ASLA, CEFPI

Principal, Design Concepts

Darin DeLay

Denver Public Schools

Project Manager, Learning Landscapes

IntroductionIntroduction

“I have long realized that we cannot have a great city and great neighborhoods without great schools”

Mayor Wellington Webb

“As a community, we receive so many benefits from ensuring that children receive a strong well-rounded education…Learning Landscapes is a perfect model of what can be accomplished when the private sector, public sector, and the nonprofit community are engaged and invested in a common goal.”

Mayor John Hickenlooper

IntroductionIntroduction

Learning Landscapes are:

•Participatory landscapes that support outdoor learning with academic,  physical education and socialization tools for school-age children.

•Multigenerational spaces for both students and the community

•An aesthetically pleasing focal point for the community.

HistoryHistory

•Since 1998, in partnership with Denver Public Schools, we have transformed 97 neglected public elementary schoolyards into attractive and safe multi-use parks tailored to the needs and desires of their neighbors and communities.

•$49 Million invested in construction

•Serves over 45,000 students daily

•2009 Entrepreneurial American Community Award (DPS/UCD)

HistoryHistory

Research Shows:

Significant improvements in student CSAP writing scores due to outdoor environments for science and literacy (journal writing) according to DPS and DU’s Urban Partnership for Improving Science

Students are able to pay attention for longer periods of time on the same assignment outdoors and are more focused when they return to the indoor class work (Louv 2008)

Highest ranking teaching strategy in a recent study was Enhanced Context Strategies, this included using the schoolyard for lessons (Scott et al 2005)

Program ElementsProgram Elements

•Shade Shelter

•Community Gateway

•Outdoor Classroom

•Multi-Purpose Field

•Track

•Habitat Garden

•Student Learning/Community Garden

•Asphalt Hard Court Games

•Educational Elements/Theme

•Art Elements

•Play Equipment

Program ElementsProgram Elements

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

Educational Elements/ThemingEducational Elements/Theming

Educational Elements/ThemingEducational Elements/Theming

Shade SheltersShade Shelters

Shade SheltersShade Shelters

Community GatewaysCommunity Gateways

Multi-Purpose FieldMulti-Purpose Field

Art - ArtistsArt - Artists

Art - ArtistsArt - Artists

Art - ArtistsArt - Artists

Art - ArtistsArt - Artists

Art - StudentsArt - Students

Art - StudentsArt - Students

Art - StudentsArt - Students

MusicMusic

Outdoor ClassroomsOutdoor Classrooms

Outdoor ClassroomsOutdoor Classrooms

Outdoor ClassroomsOutdoor Classrooms

Outdoor ClassroomsOutdoor Classrooms

Natural Teaching OpportunitiesNatural Teaching Opportunities

Playground EquipmentPlayground Equipment

Gardens - StudentGardens - Student

Gardens – The Kitchen CommunityGardens – The Kitchen Community

Gardens – Denver Urban GardensGardens – Denver Urban Gardens

Gardens – Urban FarmingGardens – Urban Farming

VolunteersVolunteers

VolunteersVolunteers

Before and After – Beach Court ESBefore and After – Beach Court ES

Before and After – Beach Court ESBefore and After – Beach Court ES

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

Before and After – Denison Montessori SchoolBefore and After – Denison Montessori School

ResultsResults

MaintenanceMaintenance

•Denver Water credits for utilization of smart irrigation systems (iCentral)

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

A

future elementary

school

•Fewer fights/bullying/trips to Principal’s office – conflict resolution

•Increased physical activity

•Improved outdoor opportunities tied to curriculum – Improved test scores

•Elevated learning curve in first months of opening new learning landscape

•Calculated risk taking skills – testing new boundaries

•Increased community involvement/ownership

•Increase/decrease in vandalism after hours

•Improved social skills

•Problem solving skills

•Real estate value increase

•Learning through play

Partnering OpportunitiesPartnering Opportunities

A

future elementary

school

•University of Colorado at Denver www.learninglandscapes.org

•Denver Public Schools

•City and County of Denver

•Kaboom Play Equipment

•Kitchen Community and other local restaurants

•Slow Food Denver

•Urban Farms: Agriburbia, Revision International, Sprout City Farms

•Denver Urban Gardens for Community Gardens

•The Gates Foundation

•Americorps

•Comcast

•Target

•Home Depot

•Local businesses

•Local nurseries

LEARNING LANDSCAPES

The Ultimate Outdoor School Makeover

Questions?

Thank you!Thank you!