| Developing an Outdoor Learning Environment (Project Ole') at RHS (Rochester High School) |
| Rochester High is the oldest of three high schools and in the most developed part of the Rochester Community Schools. Our campus is located at two very busy intersections and bordered by homes, businesses and the bus garage for the district. There is no natural area except for a drainage ditch in the back of school and even that gets trimmed when it dries out. As a teacher of Biology as well as strong promoter of teaching to include multiple intelligences, I have found it difficult to convince the administration to even leave a small piece of land for students to watch succession and be able to compare the differences between a natural and managed area. Showing a video does not provide the hands on experience that a "naturalist" needs to grasp such concepts as succession and biodiversity. Nor does it give the students the opportunity to make observations and record data. Our school was recently rennovated and left with big gaps of barren land around the school which were seeded as soon as possible. Last fall (2002), we received a donation of 100 perennials from a local nursery; Bordines. My classes worked very quickly to develop a plan and we planted them in the circle around our flag pole. In seeing the enthusiasm of the students, I realized we had the opportunity to improve our whole landscape. |
| H I S T O R Y |
With the help of an assistant principal; Chuck May, we applied for a matching grant to cover the cost to buy 52 trees for the front of our building. Students were to design and develop the whole landscape project with the help of staff and the larger community. When we were notified that we did not receive the grant we then started "Project Ole" and enlisted the help of the Rochester Community Schools Foundation, RHS staff, students, clubs, PTSA, and other groups in the community. Our purpose in raising money is to: --Plant trees with historical significance as well as ones that had meaning to various American and European authors. --Plant them in such a way as to offer "islands" that are mulched to make them easier to maintain as well as offer shaded areas for classes to enjoy. --Provide a diversity of trees, shrubs, and flowers for Biology and Botany classes to identify, track growth, and record data. --Provide the opportunity for Botany and Biology classes to work with plants and be exposed to life long learning such as how to maintain and prune various trees. --Provide a diversity of subjects for art classes to sketch, paint, and photograph. -- Empower students to make a difference in their learning environment at the high school as well as to show the Rochester community the efforts of our students. |
| OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT OLE' |
 |