Lincoln Elementary Unveils New Outdoor Classroom And Garden

PLAINFIELD, IL — A trio of Lincoln Elementary parents helped their children's school fund and build a new outdoor classroom and garden, amenities that will offer new environments for kids to learn while also beautifying the school grounds. The model, the parents hope, will be one that can easily be replicated at other district schools.

Students this year will be able to use the new space, while includes a shaded area for kids, flexible seating, plus outdoor chalkboards and art. The space is newly landscaped, including a sustainable garden that students helped plant.

The project came together in Spring of 2018, when Lincoln Principal Casey Hartman asked parent Tara Mozden to help design an outdoor classroom. Mozden, an outdoor designer, signed on to help. The scope of the project quickly expanded, however.

This spring, first grader Evie DeVolder asked Hartman for permission to add a garden to the outdoor classroom. Hartman agreed, and connected Mozden with Evie's mom, Kelly DeVolder.

Two two then enlisted fellow Lincoln parent Vanessa Sula, who has experience with engineering and construction. The group formed the "Lincoln Grows" team, which sought to raise funds and organize a build of the new classroom and garden.

The group successfully fund raised for the project, securing donations from Action for Healthy Kids, the PTA and the Plainfield Kiwanis Club, according to the district. The moms also sold t-shirts to raise funds.

"The Lincoln community has done an incredible job coming together and embracing this idea," Kelly DeVolder said in a statement.

A community build day was held, where volunteers helped construct the raised garden beds, assemble chairs and plant the garden.

The garden was designed to be sustainable, preventing the school from having to provide regular upkeep. The new classroom space will not only get kids thinking about sustainability, but it is also designed to help kids focus better in their regular studies.

Multiple studies have shown that outdoor classroom time can help a student's performance. Students with regular outdoor class time score higher than those without in 72 percent of assessments, according to Lincoln Grow's website. DeVolder said outdoor classes have 57 percent less redirects than traditional class settings.

"There are so many benefits of being outside," she said.

Most importantly, the successful volunteer project can be replicated at other area schools, the group said.

"We want to make sure this can be duplicated to the other schools," Sula said in a statement. "Everyone who is helping with this has kids here, so there is an invested interest to keep this going."

Submitted by District 202