Our Park
Ravenna/Cowen Park is an urban oasis with 4.5 miles of woodland trails, nearly 60 acres of land, vast open spaces, a 115 feet deep forested ravine, and bountiful ecosystems. The parks are within an easy walk from University Cooperative School - even for our youngest students.
The park is our daily playground, outdoor science lab, and practice fields for our Ultimate Frisbee champions and much more. Students spend at least an hour (rain or shine) each day at Cowen Park - playing on the playground, running through the fields, or exploring the trails
Learning in the Park
Ravenna and Cowen Parks serve as an extension of our indoor classrooms. Here, we investigate hiking trails and streams to build our science skills, learn about nature, and experience the surprises and wonder in the forest. We learn about the plants and wildlife (flora and fauna) in the park while enjoying time outdoors - a crucial part of childhood. You might find us:
Observing, exploring, and collecting data on spiders, squirrels, owls, and worms
Performing water quality testing in the creek
Identifying plants by their leaves
Writing poetry in the park
Participating in science and math activities in the park (launching rockets, collecting seeds, learning about worms, releasing butterflies)
Stewardship
We learn how to be environmental stewards by caring for these vital green spaces in our community. Students learn about the impact we can make through stewardship activities and projects in Ravenna and Cowen Park, such as:
Working with Seattle Parks & Recreation to remove invasive plant species
Cultivating beneficial native plants and planting trees and flowers
Helping restore grass in playfields
Removing trash
Daily safety inspections of the Cowen Park playground before kids head there for recess