Students Take Their School Work Outdoors

Monday, September 24th 2007, 6:18 pm

By: News On 6

An outdoor classroom project in Inola has grown over the last year and a half. Originally, there was to be a small amphitheater and a butterfly garden. Now, as News On 6 reporter Rick Wells shows us, the project has a pond, a gazebo, and plans to add a trail of trees.

The Inola outdoor classroom is a five phase project with four of the phases complete.

Mason Waldvogel is one of the original student planners for this project.

"We just wanted a little amphitheater and a butterfly garden out here," says Mason Waldvogel.

Inola students and teachers created a plan and wrote grants to the National Learn and Serve America program. Before they knew it, they had some grants and some local sponsors.

The News On 6 visited in May of 2006 as the school officials were constructing a covered pavilion which is now finished.

They've added a small rose garden and created a wetland area they can use to study wildlife in and out of the water. In addition, there are plans for a trail of trees containing all native trees.

The Cherokee Tribe has awarded a grant to help with the project but the students will plan the trail and do most of the work on it.

The outdoor classroom is a great example of the good work they can do.

Watch the video: Inola Outdoor Classroom