Outdoors education
<p>Wendy French dumps soil into a garden box during a work day on Saturday for John Brown ElementaryÕs Cougar Patch outdoor classroom in Rathdrum.</p>
<p>The John Brown Elementary crew, with Jazmine Dove (foreground) leading the pack, work on Saturday on the schoolÕs Cougar Patch.</p>
<p>Ryan Mattison of MLM Mattison Landscape Mainteneance instructs john Brown Elementary students on the new irrigation system.</p>
RATHDRUM - John Brown Elementary is getting a makeover for its 50th birthday.
And part of the Rathdrum school's new look is an outdoor classroom called Cougar Patch.
Volunteers participated in a work day on the project at the school on Saturday. Several businesses have also helped sponsor the effort that will give students opportunities to learn about gardening and native and wildlife habitat.
"John Brown is due for a makeover," said Fonda Stewart, a teacher at the school. "The school was surrounded by old overgrown bushes."
When the bushes were removed, a plan was developed to redesign the landscaping with an educational purpose.
The outdoor classroom features wood garden boxes that were built by Lakeland High students and an irrigation system. It will also include a shed and benches to be built by high school students, landscaping with native plants, bird and butterfly habitat, water features and meeting places.
"These projects will enhance science, social studies, reading, writing, math, health and nutrition lessons," Stewart said.
The gardens will provide what's needed such as water and shelter to fulfill the requirements for a certified wildlife habitat certification by the National Wildlife Federation.
"The plan is to use native plants and rocks in the landscaping," Stewart said.
Some of the landscaped areas will be outside classrooms in front of the building for easy access.
Students will plant and care for the raised beds around the school and in the area across from the parking lot throughout the year with weekly lessons, after-school programs and summer sessions.
"This will be a great educational experience for all students," Stewart said.
Students will plant vegetables and journal the growth, set butterflies free in the gardens, integrate science, art and writing to create flower petal cards and use the gardens for plant identification.
"These are engaging ways to implement Common Core Standards," Stewart said.
They will also integrate history lessons with native plants.
Cougar Patch will be used for the year-end Rendezvous, a celebration that focuses on pioneers, Native Americans and Idaho history.
Donations, including cement, brick, a solar pump water feature and native plants, are needed to finish the project in the spring.
For more information about the project or if you're interested in helping, contact John Asher at 687-0551 or jasher@lakeland272.org.