Kenilworth Elementary Outdoor Classroom Brings Learning to Life

New learning opportunities abound for Bowie elementary students at Kenilworth Elementary School, which recently celebrated the opening of it's outdoor classroom. 

"This space is an area of never ending learning opportunities," said Kevin Maxwell, the CEO of Prince George's County Schools, at the classroom's ribbon cutting ceremony. 

"The importance of conservation and teaching our children to care for the environment cannot be understated and it cannot be overstated in any way," Maxwell said. 

The outdoor classroom is filled with native trees and plants, including purple cone flowers and birch trees; and also has a rain barrel, bird feeders and other features. 

"The idea was to attract wildlife," landscaper Pat Colony said. Colony works for Patuxent Nursery, which helped design the space and install the features and plants. 

The classroom was the brainchild of Christina Bayes, vice president of the Kenilworth Elementary PTA. She has two children in the school in first and fifth grades. 

She said the idea came to her when she was vacationing on the Chesapeake Bay and saw and outdoor classroom in use. 

"It's perfect for kids, what they are learning in the curriculum. It reinforces what they are learning," Bayes said. 

The classroom cost $6,200 and was entirely funded by the PTA. 

"It's really exciting that we can give them something that will help our children learn," Bayes said. 

The next step of the project is to build raised vegetable beds, so the kids can plant and harvest vegetables, according to Bayes. 

A gallery of the new outdoor classroom can be found here.