Outdoor Learning
The world is our classroom.
Learning is not bound within the four walls of our building. The garden, the forest, the creek, the park, the mountains, and the sea provide infinite learning opportunities. Our students grow in confidence, environmental advocacy, and compassion by building connections to the natural world through expeditionary learning.
Embracing the outdoors is crucial to our school (and childhood!). We spend time at Cowen/Ravenna Park every day for an hour of rain-or-shine recess. But it doesn’t end there!
We have regular excursions in nature, whether it's a short trip to the forest in our local park, a field trip to learn about earth science or an adventurous overnight retreat.
Students regularly spend time in nature, whether to release salmon they’ve raised, read and write in natural settings, or explore first-hand the environmental issues impacting our community locally and beyond.
Example Thematic Study Unit - Salmon Project
Our Salmon unit in the K-2 pod is an experiential and environmental education program that provides learning opportunities throughout all parts of the classroom - art, math, reading, writing, and science.
In this year-long unit, students learn about salmon life cycles, interrelationships in ecosystems, environmental stewardship, and the importance of salmon to Pacific Northwest commerce and culture. We raise salmon from eggs. After caring for the salmon for months and observing and documenting their life cycles, we release fry into the wild! These efforts play a fundamental and vital role in species conservation.
To support our Salmon study unit, we go on multiple field trips. Last year, we visited Ballard Locks to see the fish ladder, Carkeek Park to see the salmon spawn, and the Issaquah fish hatchery, and finally released our salmon fry into the wild at Matthew’s Beach!
Garden
University Cooperative School students dive into the joys of gardening in our three plots at Shiga’s Community P-Patch garden. Through hands-on activities like digging, planting, and tasting, they become young ecologists, exploring garden ecosystems by learning about worms, pollinators, bunny invaders, and the magic of growing vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers.
Our garden curriculum is all about teamwork, healthy eating, and community care. Students plant and grow crops, then learn cooking skills while preparing snacks and meals. We share our harvest with local food shelters, fostering a sense of generosity. At University Cooperative School, gardening is not just an activity – it’s an exciting, learner-centered journey that connects students to plants, animals, and the changing seasons.