THE SCHOOLYARD, OUR OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

Rogers Elementary School (S.D.#61-Greater Victoria) has approximately 300 students from K to 7. We have a unique location as we are adjacent to Christmas Hill-Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. The school was built in 1991 on what had been farm land and before that a Garry Oak meadow.

Parts of our schoolyard remain as such: close to 100 mature trees, mainly Garry Oaks with a few Douglas fir, surround our schoolyard. Other native plant species include snowberries, wild roses, Indian plums, blue camas and Easter lilies.

The project started during the 1995-1996 school year. Right from the start, our school had set environmental education as one of its focuses. Recycling, composting and sponsoring an environmental club had been some of the activities at the school. Then in 1994, we went a step further. Some staff members saw the immense possibilities of our schoolyard as a place to study nature and to protect wildlife. With the support of students, staff and parents, the W.I.S.E. project was launched the following year.

Walking around the schoolyard, you would notice:

• a garden area with twelve raised beds
• a greenhouse and toolshed
• a compost bin
• birdhouses and birdfeeders
• areas with Native Plants

• to develop in students an ecological awareness and a knowledge of biodiversity in the schoolyard.
• to attract, maintain and nurture the wildlife found in the schoolyard among the threatened Garry Oak ecosystem.

To reach our goals of nature study and development of stewardship in our students, we divided W.I.S.E into 6 areas of study. A steering committee was formed and a budget was prepared, the bulk of it was used to buy resources and to provide release time for teachers to develop the ­ different units. The learning outcomes were closely tied to the new Science and Personal Planning curricula. When the program is completely developed, it will be implemented in two year cycles. Each of the 6 units is further broken down into 2 levels, the apprentice level and the master level. As the program evolves, criteria for successful completion of each level are to be developed.

The 6 areas of study:

• Gardening/composting
• Bugs and insects
• Native plants
• Birds
• Weather patterns
• Ecology

The 6 components and the levels of W.I.S.E.

• Apprentice gardeners (K-1), year one
• Apprentice birders (K-1), year two
• Apprentice native plants specialists (2-3), year one
• Apprentice and master insects specialists (2-3), year two
• Master gardeners (4-5), year one
• Apprentice ecologists (4-5), year two
• Apprentice and master weather specialists (5-6), year one
• Master birders (5-6), year two
• Master ecologists (6-7), year one
• Master native plants specialists (6-7), year two

Some of the Rogers School students are further involved in W.I.S.E through the school environmental club. These students help in a variety of ways such as maintaining bird feeders, putting up nesting boxes, planting native species and upkeeping the garden area.

In order to provide more habitat and food for local wildlife, we are planting native species in our yard on an ongoing basis. We have added to the existing flora plants such as:

• Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)
• Red flowering currant (Ribes sanguinum)
• Oceanspray (Holodiscus discolor)
• Mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii)
• Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
• Saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia)

In our raised beds, we also plant a variety of non native annuals that attract beneficial insects, birds and butterflies.

Over the next few years:

• a nature trail.
• completion of the units and beyond.
• perhaps a pond.
• a nursery business run by the students.
• The sky is the limit!

• The Evergreen Foundation and Friends of the Environment (Canada Trust Foundation)

  Many thanks go to these organizations for funding various aspects of the Rogers Environmental Curriculum program.
  
  

• The Christmas Hill-Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary

  This nature sanctuary is located partly adjacent to the school and partly in close proximity for an easy walk. Their mandate is the same as ours and their staff are delighted to share expertise and space. Visit them at www.swanlake.bc.ca.
  
  

• School District #61

  S.D.#61 is supportive both administratively and pedagogically. Assistant superintentent Monty Bryant has been a great resource for us, as has the district Maintenance and Grounds Department. Our maintenance department has with leadership from head gardener Al Hood allowed students to participate in preparing and planting sites and to effectively perform a great deal of the work themselves.
  
  

• Colquitz River Watershed Stewardship Project

  This noteworthy project is coordinated by Lenny Ross, Strawberry Vale Elementary School. The project was begun in 1994 and is focussed on the local Colquitz river, which was much in need of attention.