Outdoor Education

Students play daily in a nature play space adjacent to their classrooms, where they hunt for worms, crickets and grubs, watch a variety of caterpillars in a butterfly garden (which they plant and tend), and feed and observe birds, squirrels and even the occasional hawk. They also take time to relax and explore in a sensory garden.  

Our students love exploring the 5 acres of Backwoods and always find something new, including red bellied salamanders, deer rubbings, patent leather beetles, and worms. These Backwoods include a high oak canopy, native Maryland trees and perennial plants, wildlife, a spring-fed stream, a gazebo, a bridge, and a dam and spring house built in the 1850s.

In the Little Reds classroom, natural materials for art and building projects are used whenever possible.

Students focus on growing vegetables and herbs for their school community. By planting seeds in early spring, caring for their gardens, harvesting, preparing, and eating the produce, students learn about the life cycle of plants. By the end of each school year, students have planted a garden that will thrive over the summer and will be harvested in the fall.