OUTDOOR CLASSROOM CATCHING ON

CAIRO, Ill. -- The "outdoor classroom" is an idea that is catching on.

It captures a child's interest, say proponents of the concept.

"Educators recognize the educational value of learning in the outdoors," said Bill Rogers, principal of Cairo's Emerson Grade School. "They reinforce lessons by providing actual examples of what the students are already studying."

Students bored with inside lessons may shine in the outdoor settings.

It's one thing to read about insects, birds and native plants, but it's something else to see the real things in an outdoor classroom.

Rogers said, "It's great for the students. They get so involved. Some will be making bird feeders."

Students, parents and teachers of Emerson Elementary School and a group from the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, have been planned an outdoor classroom, or nature area, at the school, 3101 Elm St. for a while, and started initiating those plans last weekend.

The project will provide a setting where students can step out of the building into a natural classroom without walls and ceilings, said Rogers.

The project involves a collaborative effort between the community, school administration, Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

"It will include water -- a small pond -- native plants, trees, trail and bird feeders," said Liz Jones of the Cypress Creek Refuge.

The Emerson area will be behind the school over a 75-x-10-foot area.

Jones explained the outdoor classroom program:

"It's a partnering thing. The Cypress Refuge and the Illinois Department of Natural Resource set up partnership with schools to establish nature areas."

Emerson teachers Marsha Kern and Mary Herndon initiated the project at the start of the school year.

"Emerson is really gung-ho on the project," said Jones. "The school has come up with some plants, and we'll provide some native plants, to get this thing started."

The groups, with gloves, sturdy shoes, tools and a snack, all met at the school Saturday morning to get the project started, by planting trees and plants. A small pond, six to 10 feet in diameter, and some logs will be placed at the site.

Clotheslines will be placed from post to post so students can hang small bird feeders.

"The posts (logs) will also be used by woodpeckers," said Jones.

Picnic tables and umbrellas will be placed in the area.

Rogers is no stranger to the outdoor class concept.

A few years ago Rogers was at Cairo's Bennett Elementary School and headed a program for two projects there -- an outdoor classroom, and a vegetable garden.

The Bennett nature area is well used, said Rogers, and the vegetable garden has been great in the area for students and nearby residents.

The garden is across the street from the school, and many area residents join to prepare the ground, plant and tend the garden.

Westvaco of Wickliffe, Ky., became involved in the nature area.

The goals of the outdoor classroom concept are many -- to educate and inspire students, teachers and the public about the natural world through "direct discovery and hands-on learning, to promote a sense of personal responsibility for the environment and to offer areas as living museums through the use of appropriate land management practices.

The nature center/outdoor classroom concept is popular in a number of areas.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is providing grants to help schools develop classrooms where students can learn in the outdoors.

This is the second year the Missouri Conservation Department has offered grants for outdoor classrooms. Outdoor Classroom Grant Program Coordinator Kim Wade said 120 schools applied for grants.

She said there was not nearly enough money to fund all the proposals. Grants ranged from $300 to $5,000 and went to elementary, middle and high schools around the state.

Malden R-1 District was selected for one of the grants.